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

Object number

RIF3469

Maker

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

Dimensions

28 × 32 1/2 × 32 in. (71.12 × 82.55 × 81.28 cm)

Date

1750–80

Current location

Unknown

Geography

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

Medium

Mahogany

Marks

None

Inscriptions

None

Style

Chippendale

Provenance

Private Southern collection; consigned to Sotheby's, New York, January 18–19, 2008, lot 222

Associated names

Private collection
Sotheby's

Construction

The circular, single-board top has an edge which is raised, molded and stepped at the transition to its underside, which is fitted with two cleats, with square ends and quarter round profiles near the ends, and incurvate profiles at the transitions to deeper middle portions, each cleat fixed to it with five countersunk screws. A brass catch latch under the top locks it to its pedestal in a brass plate. Dowels integral with the pedestal top and fitted into the cleats allow the top to tilt and the table to stand in a corner when not in use. The underside of the block atop the pedestal is chamfered on three sides and bears a circular hole in each corner. The circular, wedged top of the turned, tapered pedestal is visible through the top of the block. The sides of the pedestal base have been shaved flat where the legs attach, in joints concealed by two overlapping triangular metal plates, each secured with several rosehead nails and a single screw. The three cabriole legs have rasp marks and scribe lines on their underside, are flat-sided and slightly arch-topped, and end in stylized ball and claw feet. Examined by P.E. Kane, January 16, 2008; notes compiled by T.B. Lloyd.

Bibliography

Sotheby's, New York, Important Americana, sale cat. (January 18–19, 2008), 216, lot 222, ill.