A George III mahogany gateleg foldover tea table, early 19th century, the front with a single drawer with the original brass handles and supported on circular tapering supports with pad feet. 27.95 in. high, 29.13 in. wide, 13.78 in. depth
- Foldover - A term used when describing card, tea or games tables, where the top folds over onto itself when not in use. The interior surfaces that are exposed when the top is open may be polished (in the case of tea tables) or baized (for card or games tables).
- George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.
- Pad Foot - In furniture design, a pad foot refers to a type of
furniture foot that is shaped like a flattened ball or pad. It is a common
design element in traditional furniture styles, particularly in English and
American furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The pad foot is typically
wider than it is tall, with a broad, flat surface that rests directly on the
floor. It is often carved or turned with decorative details, such as fluting or
ridges, and can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, or
leather.
Pad feet are used to support the legs of various types of
furniture, such as chairs, tables, and cabinets. They are often used in
combination with other types of feet, such as bun feet or bracket feet, to
create a more complex and decorative furniture design. In terms of
functionality, pad feet provide stability and support to furniture pieces, and
can help distribute the weight of the piece evenly across the floor. In terms
of design, they add a classic and traditional look to furniture designs, and
are often used to create a sense of elegance and refinement.
- Mahogany - Mahogany is a dense, close grained red-coloured timber from the West Indies and Central America. It was first imported into Europe in the the early 18th century and its use continued through the 19th century. It was popular for furniture making because of its strength, the wide boards available, the distinctive grain on some boards, termed flame mahogany and the rich warm colour of the timber when it was polished.. The "flame" was produced where a limb grew out from the trunk of the tree, and this timber was usually sliced into veneers for feature panels on doors, backs and cornices.
Some terms used to describe mahogany relate to the country from which it originally came, such as "Cuban" mahogany, "Honduras" mahogany etc. However unless the wood has been tested the names assigned are more a selling feature, rather than a true indication of the timber's origin.
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