A Carved Mahogany Classical Drop-leaf Table, Phyfe School, New York, c.1830
This is a magnificent fully embellished drop-leaf table, which represents the highest development of the Empire Classical form in New York, of the 1820s - 30s. A related table to this is illustrated in Barquist'sAmerican Tables and Looking Glasses, which he refers to as a Masterpiece of Classical Form (see scan). While the table he illustrates has carved panels flanking the upper drawer, our example had carved lions' faces on the fully developed plinth, as a tradeoff (see detail below). No two of these are alike.
Please explore the various close-ups we illustrate. The carved columns, pineapple, acanthus leaves, and fully developed hairy paw feet speak for themselves, as the work of a gifted artisan. The top is single board Santo Domingo mahogany with beautiful deep figuring, and exhibits the more complex double cloved corner. The mahogany has a warm, amber glow. This table is one of the best.
Interestingly, another very similar table in this school also with a lion's mask carving recently surfaced at auction (see scan).
Height: 30 1/4 in. Width: 25 1/2 - 50 1/2 in. Depth: 36 in.
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