Rhode Island Furniture Archive - Yale University Art Gallery

Photo: Courtesy Christie's, New York Click the image to enlarge	Card tables, pair
	Object number RIF5172
	Maker Maker Unknown Maker, possibly by Nicholas Easton, 1752–1825
	Dimensions 28 3/4 � 36 � 17 3/4 in. (73.03 � 91.44 � 45.09 cm)
	Date 1792
	Current location Unknown
	Geography Made in Providence, Rhode Island (view a map of Rhode Island)
	Medium Mahogany (primary); pine (curved front corners, stationary rails, corner blocks and blocks between the rails); cherry (hinged rail and possibily center section of front rail)
	Inscriptions "Candace Allen," in chalk, on underside of top of one table
	Provenance Captain Philip Allen (1738–1794), Providence, Rhode Island; by descent to Candace Allen (1788–1860), Providence, Rhode Island; by descent to William Slater Allen (1930–2005), Providence, Rhode Island, by 1986; consigned to Sotheby's, New York, January 30–31, and February 1, 1986, lot 663. Joseph K. Ott (1929–1994), Providence, Rhode Island; by descent to his wife Anne Ott, Providence, Rhode Island; consigned to Christie's, New York, January 20, 2012, lot 159. Northeast Auctions, Hampton and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, March 9–10, 2013, lot 74
	Associated names Philip Allen Candace Allen William Slater Allen Sotheby's Joseph K. Ott Christie's Northeast Auctions
	Construction The upper single-board hinged leaf has a square edge carved with multiple small arches. The lower single-board stationary leaf has a chamfered edge, which tapers toward the brass hinges screwed into each leaf at their rear corners. There are no leaf-edge tenons. The lower leaf is attached to the frame with screw pockets, one each at the central, straight portion of the skirt, one each at the curving portions, and two each at the rear, stationary rail. The central portion of the frame is solid, as are the curving portions. The legs are joined to the frame with mortise and tenon joints (exhibiting scribe lines on the underside of the rear rail), and vertical glue-blocks (some missing, some replaced). The stationary rail joins the skirt by means of a two-dovetail joint, with half-pins above and below. The stationary rail is attached by five roseheads nailed through a block to the hinged rail. The top of the hinged leg has a mahogany block attached with a large screw and dowel to its joint with the hinged rail. The hinged rail has a square, five knuckled hinge. Attached with brads to the underside of the skirt is a thin strip of mahogany, revealed at the front as a wavy line. The square, tapering legs are molded on the outside faces only. Examined by P. E. Kane and W. S. Braznell, January 14, 2012; notes compiled by T. B. Lloyd.
	Notes Among the papers of Joseph K. Ott is an unsigned transcription of a bill reading "March 24, 1792 / Received of Capt Philip Allen / for Two Mahogany Card Tables / Nicholas Easton." The whereabouts of the original bill of sale is unknown, but it may possibly refer to these tables. Source: Christie's, New York, sale cat., The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph K. Ott, January 20, 2012, p. 74.
	Bibliography Sotheby's, New York, Important Americana, sale cat. (January 30–Februrary 1, 1986), lot 663. The chalk inscription is incorrectly transcribed as "Constance Allen.". Christie's, New York, The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph K. Ott, sale cat. (January 20, 2012), 74–75, lot 159. Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, N.H., Important Weekend Auction, sale cat. (March 9–10, 2013), 27, lot 74.