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Photo: Courtesy Sotheby's, New York
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Tilt-top table

Object number

RIF3062

Maker

Maker Unknown
Maker, formerly attributed to John Goddard, American, 1723?1785

Dimensions

Height: 27 3/4 in. (70.49 cm) Diameter, top: 29 1/4 in. (74.3 cm)

Date

1750–80

Current location

Unknown

Geography

Made in Newport, Rhode Island
(view a map of Rhode Island)

Medium

Mahogany (primary); birch (block)

Marks

None

Inscriptions

None

Style

Chippendale

Provenance

Private collection; consigned to Sotheby's, New York, January 21–22, 2000, lot 674. Private Southern collection; consigned to Sotheby's, New York, January 18–19, 2008, lot 210

Associated names

Private collection
Sotheby's

Construction

The circular, single-board top has an edge which is raised, molded, and slightly stepped at the transition to its underside, which is fitted with two cleats, with curved end profiles and ogee profiles at the transitions to deeper, middle portions, each cleat fixed to it with four flat-head screws and one dome-top screw apiece. The underside bears marks from having been attached to a face plate during turning. Dowels, integral with the pedestal top and fitted into the cleats, allow the top to tilt in such a way as to have the table sit in the corner of a room when not in use. A circular brass catch latch locks the top to its rectangular pedestal top in a brass plate. The rectangular wedged top of the vasiform pedestal is visible through the top of the block. The sides of the pedestal have been shaved flat where the legs attach. Those joints are concealed by three wrought-iron straps, affixed to the underside of the pedestal (where they overlap), and to the legs, with flat-head screws. The cabriole legs are rounded on top, flat on their underside, chamfered under their thin ankles, and terminate in stylized ball and claw feet. Examined by P.E. Kane, January 6, 2008; notes compiled by T.B. Lloyd

Bibliography

Sotheby's, New York, Important Americana, sale cat. (January 21–22, 2000), 344, lot 674, ill.
Sotheby's, New York, Important Americana, sale cat. (January 18–19, 2008), 206, lot 210, ill.