Object Type
A draw table is an extending table with the top divided into three leaves. Those at each end slide under the central leaf when the table is closed. To open the table, the end leaves are drawn out and the central leaf occupies the space in the middle, so forming a continuous surface. Draw tables were known in the early 17th century and were sometimes called drawing tables.
Design & Designing
The bulbous legs are of Flemish origin. They were introduced into England through immigrant craftsmen and continental pattern books by designers such as Wendel Dietterlin of Strasbourg (1550-1599) and Hans Vredeman de Vries of Antwerp (1527-?1606).
The inlay, chequer patterns and diagonal banding are characteristic of work by Dutch and Flemish refugee craftsmen in Southwark, London. The acanthus leaf carving and gadrooning on the vases are typical of draw tables made in England in the period from 1585 to 1630. (The gadrooning is the carved decoration with convex reeds on the edges of the 'apron' and stretchers.)
Historical Associations
The table came from Spains Hall, near Finchling, Essex, the seat of the Kempe family.
Physical description
Draw-Table; the top rests on a framework inlaid on each side in sycamore, bog oak, and other woods with chequer pattern and other ornament in panels bordered with diagonal lines. Below this is a narrow carved band of conventional ornament. The four legs are of heavy baluster form, each composed of a modified Ionic capital, a bulbous body carved above with gadroons and below with acanthus and resting on a turned base. They are connected below by four moulded stretchers.
Place of Origin
Southwark, England (possibly, made)
Date
ca. 1600 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Oak, carved and inlaid with sycamore, holly and bog-oak
Dimensions
Height: 83.2 cm, Width: 183 cm leaves closed, Depth: 84.5 cm
Object history note
Possibly made in Southwark, London.
Oak Table purchased from Caroline Drummond, executrix & widow of Rev Martin Drummond, Rector of Wanstead, Essex.
Notes from R.P. 19035/1898
23rd April 1898 letter
Clark (on behalf of Drummond) offers Mr Drummond's large oak drawing table of the time of Charles I "in a perfect state of preservation". On 2nd May 1898 he writes again on the merits of the table
5th May 1898, minute paper of Lehfeldt (attached)
reports on his inspection of the table. He describes it as English @ 1600.
7th May 1898, minute paper
describes the table as "Far above the average of English 16th C. work". Mr Seymour Lucas (well known expert on the period) recommends that the Museum secure it as such examples are very rare.
16th May 1898, purchase form
describes the condition of the oak drawing table as "chipped & scratched". It is purchased for £80.
Object sampling carried out by Jo Darrah, V&A Science; drawer/slide reference 1/loose.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Draw-Table; the top rests on a framework inlaid on each side in sycamore, bog oak, and other woods with chequer pattern and other ornament in panels bordered with diagonal lines. Below this is a narrow carved band of conventional ornament. The four legs are of heavy baluster form, each composed of a modified Ionic capital, a bulbous body carved above with gadroons and below with acanthus and resting on a turned base. They are connected below by four moulded stretchers. Said to have come from Spains Hall, Finchinfield, Essex. About 1600. From catalogue H. 2 ft. 8 ¾ in., L. closed, 6 ft., with leaves extended, 11 ft. 2 ½ in., W. 3 ft. 9 ¼ in. (H. 83.2 cm, L. closed, 182.9 cm, with leaves extended, 341.6 cm, W. 114.9 cm) Compare inlaid Elizabethan table at Nettlecombe. (See 'Country Life,' May 2, 1914.) From: H. Clifford Smith, Catalogue of English Furniture & Woodwork (London 1930), 611, Plate 32.
Labels and date
British Galleries:
Refugee craftsmen from Flanders (now Belgium) supplied both the design sources and the skills needed to create the inlaid decoration on this table. The draw leaves allow the table to double its length. Bulbous, turned legs covered with stylised leaves were also found on the supports for the upper tier of cupboards and on bedposts. [27/03/2003]
Categories
Furniture
Collection code
FWK
