Mahogany tripod tea or supper table with a shaped top showing eight lobed, dished recesses around the outer rim. The top pivoted on a turned stem in the form of an elongated urn, the tripod stand with pad feet.

Mahogany tripod tea or supper table with a shaped top showing eight circular lobes around the outer rim. The top surface is carved in the solid with mouldings that outline the lobes and the central, dished area. Between the lobes are small, semi-circular recesses in the edge of the table, the edges these forming decorative cusps of almost gothic form. The top is pivoted on a turned stem in the form of an elongated urn with no further decorative carvings. The tripod stand has pointed pad feet. The legs are carved on the underside with small cusps, close to the central stem. The small recesses are for plates or dishes.
Construction
The legs are dovetailed up into the underside of the block that forms the base of the central stem, which is turned in one piece. At the top is a flat block of oak, approximately 12.5 cm (5") square, with one edge rounded and extended at each side to form pegs that locate into circular recesses on the inner face of two mahogany battens that are screwed to the top with three screws each. These run almost completely across the top and are curved upwards at the ends so that they are less visible in normal use. The oak block is attached to the top of the stem, probably with a screw, covered with a small, inset panel of wood. On the underside of the top, just where this panel touches when the table is closed, is a shallow, carved depression, perhaps suggesting earlier provision for a slightly larger screw head. When in the down position the table top is held with a small brass spring catch that locates in a receiving plate let into the top edge of the block. The spring mechanism is contained within a pear-shaped brass box attached to the underside of the table top with 3 screws, through flanges attached to the sides of the box. The pull to release the catch is a simple, curved band of brass.

Bequeathed by Claude D. Rotch

This table was bequeathed to the Museum by the collector Claude Rotch (Registered Papers 61/3157c). In the same bequest, the Museum received a mahogany table of similar, but slightly larger, form, with inlay of brass (W.22-1962) and another brass-inlaid version of the form was bequeathed to the Museum a few years later by Brigadier Clarke (W.3-1965).

The table was on loan to the Harris Museum and Art Gallery from 1979 to 2002 (Nominal File MA/1/P2502). There is no record of its condition when it was sent on loan. At the time of its return from long-term loan to Preston, Lancashire, it was noted that there was a split across the top, and minor scratches to the surface. The split is along the line where the top is jointed to the block at the top of the shaft and the damage (caused by rough handling) may well pre-date acquisition (see old photographs) although it was not recorded at the time.

Tables like this could be used as tea tables or supper tables. The circular recesses could hold decanters or small plates.

Small tables with such recesses for plates or cups might be used for tea or for taking a light supper. Their tripod bases made them stable on most floors and the tilting top allowed them to be stored upright in a corner when not in use. In the middle of the 18th century only the very rich could afford the largest houses in London. Many rented the narrow, tall houses that were typical of the time and their parlour would be used for all sorts of entertaining, for eating and drinking as well as sitting and socialising. The idea for a tilting table probably came from The Netherlands in the early years of the century. Like London houses, Amsterdam houses were frequently quite narrow.

W.38-1962