Pembroke Table

Occasionally we see the President in the White House meeting with dignitaries between two Pembrokes strikingly similar to this design. The legs of this table feature intricate hollywood inlay.

Rhode Island Sideboard

This is an American piece of about 1775-1800 in Hepplewhite style. It is a smaller version of a sideboard with only four legs (in lieu of six legs on larger sizes). There is a modest spray of hollywood inlay on the lower front rail. The end drawers are actually one drawer made to look like two equal sized drawers. There is holly stringing on the mahogany background of the legs and drawer fronts. The drawer fronts have a panel of crotch mahogany veneer.

Tripod Table

This is an English piece of 1755-1770 in the style of Chippendale in mahogany. The shaft, a cluster of columns quatrefoil in plan, is supported upon a bulbous form which rests upon three cabriole legs. There is a carving in the knee of these legs. The table top is in "Pie-crust" form.

Williamsburg Square Tea Table

I first saw this tea table in the Colonial Williamsburg DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. It is an original piece created by one of Williamsburg's cabinetmakers in the 18th C. The deep scalloped skirts are a very beautiful feature. The Top is split down the middle and may be the result of the frame around the Top not allowing enough cross-grain movement. With a photo imported to SketchUp, I was able to replicate the design. I've provided gaps in the joinery to free the Top to move within the frame during swings in moisture.

Shaker Dining Table

This is a ministry dining table made during the first half of the nineteenth century in the Hancock Community. The table was designed to be easily taken apart for storing or transporting. The feet are joined to the legs with draw-bolts through mortise and tenon joints. Also the legs are fastened to the stretcher with draw-bolts and mortise and tenon. I used bed bolts for these connections, however ordinary hex head bolts will suffice.

The table is light weight and non-rigid. The absence of a lower positioned stretcher means more flexibility in the legs on the longitudinal axis. But this also allows easy access below the top and no obstruction to legs or feet. The table ends are suitable for seating as there is sufficient overhang. Also the arched opening in the feet allows more comfortable positioning of human feet.

The table includes breadboards on the top. These are joined to enable seasonal movement cross-grain in the top.

The original table used cherry lumber - I made the table using silver maple French polished with seedlac shellac.

Reference: The Book of Shaker Furniture by Kassay