AboutFred Taylor Expertise I will attempt to answer questions about American antique furniture, including construction details, style, period, manufacturers, care, repair and storage. I do not have any background in appliances, musical instruments, sewing machines, lighting and clocks and will not respond to quesions about those items.
Experience I ran an antique furniture restoration business for twenty years. I am a nationally syndicated columnist on the subject of antique furniture for such publications as Antique Week and New England Antiques Journal. I have produced one video on the subject of furniture identification and my book "HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE" is now available.I have also published articles in Antique Trader, Chicago Art Deco Society, Northeast Magazine, Victorian Decorating and Lifestyles, Professional Refinishing, Antiques and Art Around Florida and Antique Shoppe. You can visit my website at www.furnituredetective.com
Education/Credentials BSBA Finance, University of Florida, MBA Finance, University of Florida
Expert: Fred Taylor Date: 4/14/2008 Subject: library table
Question Can you help me find the maker of my table. It is rosewood with flowery intricate carvings all over it. The very large two corner legs are massively carved and front legs are simple. no drawers or bottom shelf like a lot of these old tables, and the top appeared to be a leather top because nothing was on it except planks not fitted to furn. grade. We think it is victorian and was made in cinn around 1900. please help. I will send picture if you need it, thanks,susan
Answer Susan - If you can send me some photos of the table I will be happy to tell you what I can. You can send clear photos to me as .jpg files at info@furnituredetective.com. Please send the photos directly to me as .jpg files. DO NOT put them in an online photo album. Be sure to include a copy of your original inquiry so I can match them up or I will not respond.
Thanks
Fred Taylor
“HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE”
www.furnituredetective.com
Susan - Your table is a transitional table moving from Empire to Rococo Revival. The overall style is Rococo Revival, a remake of 18th century French designs, but the wood used on the skirt, crotch cut mahogany veneer, is typical of the Empire period. The table, a console of pier table, was made around 1840-1850. A console table was used in the foyer below a mirror. A pier table was designed for use in the space between two windows called the pier.
Your table probably had a marble top originally. Without a maker's mark there is no way to tell who may have made your table. If you have a clue that it came from Cincinnati a good candidate would be George Henshaw, an English cabinetmaker who worked there from 1847 to 1881.
