Attributed to Charleston, South Carolina.
Possibly by James Main, w. 1813-1822
$11,800

A newly discovered and previously undocumented American Federal card or "games" table attributed to Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1810-1820. The present table, found in an estate, in the St. Paul, Minnesota vicinity, belongs to a relatively rare, but extensively documented grouping of tables that were produced in Charleston, South Carolina during the Federal Era. It features a number of idiosyncratic details which suggest that the cabinet-maker's shop that produced this particular example had a familiarity of styles that were common to New York work, most notably in the presence of the table's astragal inlays, and five legs, which are turned, then reeded and end in an inverted urn shaped foot. New York details, such as these mentioned are common on Charleston bedsteads, case furniture, and tables. What is most notably uncharacteristic of New York workshop practices is the incorporation of a "round, elliptical front", more commonly called a "D" shape, which is rarely encountered in furniture produced by American cabinetmaking centers, other than those of the South Carolina Low country. Two card tables off this same architectural plan remain in the collection of The Department of State, Diplomatic Reception Rooms, and have been tentatively attributed to Rhode Island. This attribution has been more recently questioned, and a strong argument has been made suggesting a Charleston origin. Virtually all the other examples that have been examined have been attributed to accordingly.

ATTRIBUTION: The distinctive "D" form plan of the present table, was introduced to American cabinet-makers from Great Britain, however, it was not popular with cabinetmakers or consumers in the northern Colonies. Other than the Low country of South Carolina, it is rarely encountered. Charleston's population had a long-standing affinity for English designs that has been extensively documented. This prevalent taste appears repeatedly in furniture designs throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Interestingly, out of a study of three hundred and seventy American neo-classical card tables from New England and the Middle Atlantic States, including Maryland, reveals that the "D" shaped top, shown of this table, appears on less that two-percent of them. The other tables were produced south of Maryland, which greatly limits the prospects of attributing this table to any other urban area, other than the South Carolina Low country.

CONSTRUCTION: The top board is constructed of a solid highly figured solid mahogany top which is cross-banded on the edges, accentuated with light colored stringing. The lower board is veneered with mahogany over eastern white pine, with vertical end battens. The sides and front are laminated white-pine boards veneered with crotch mahogany, decorated with geometrical light and dark colored inlays featuring astragal patterns. The front is ornamented with a rectangular panel inset with an ovolo shaped center. The table has five legs, one of which is a swing-leg made of what appears to be birch*, secured to the frame by means of a "knuckle-joint". The table's top is secured to the frame with a series of seven screws, set in pockets, and is further strengthened by two white pine glue blocks.

MATERIALS: Mahogany, mahogany veneers, eastern white pine (frame), birch (fly rail)**, various light colored inlays, brass and steel. All by visual analysis. Microscopy report pending.

CONDITION: Exceptional. Minor repair to stress crack at the top of the upper left leg. Minor losses to the stringing, old, honey colored finish, with mellow patination.

DIMENSIONS: (All approximate) 28" High, 18" Deep, 35" Width.

RELATED OBJECTS

Card table, one of a pair, Charleston, S.C. 1805-1815, Private collection. MESDA, MRF 8759.

Card Table, Charleston, S.C., 1805-1815, Collection of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Sideboard, Charleston, S.C. 1805-1815, The Garvin Collection, Yale University Art Gallery.

Card table, one of a pair. Charleston, S.C. 1795-1805, Collection of the Historic Charleston Foundation, The Nathaniel Russell House. MESDA, MRF 8170.

Card table, Charleston, S.C. 1795-1805, Collection of the Charleston Museum. MK-6592, 6953.

Pembroke table, Charleston, S.C., 1813-1822, made by James Main. Collection of The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, acc. 2496.

Card Table, Charleston, S.C. 1811, signed by Jacob Sass, Private collection, MRF 21.501

REFERENCES

* John Bivens and Bradford Rauschenberg, The Furniture of Charleston, 1680-1820, Volume II, Neoclassical Furniture, 2003, page 663.

* R. Hurst and J. Prown, Southern Furniture, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1997, page 259.

* Hewitt, Cane, and Ward, 1982, page 188.

* John Bivens and Forsythe Alexander, The Regional Arts of the Early South, 1991, page 107.

*A Pembroke table made in Charleston and attributed to the Charleston cabinetmaker, James Main, exhibits startling similarities with the table discussed here, including the New York details such as astragal and ovolo insets, reeded legs with inverted vasiform urn feet, as well as the use of birch for the fly rails. (See Bivens/Rauschenberg s The Furniture of Charleston, page 707, NT67.

** "During the Federal period Low country artisans generally had to depend upon importation to obtain birch, along with other woods such as cherry and walnut. In 1810 notice was given that the sloop Quick Lime was ready to deport from Boston. For sale aboard the vessel were 'Birch BOARDS and JOIST, for cabinetmakers' The timber may have been cut in Maine, for the Quick Lime had arrived from there a few days previously. The presence of birch in Charleston furniture, although rare, therefore proves nothing other than the efficiency of the coastal trade." (Bivins/ Rauschenberg, The Furniture of Charleston, 1680-1820, Volume II, page 691.)