Lot Essay
With its scalloped edge, fluted pedestal centering a compressed-ball, symmetrical C-scrolled trailing foliate carved knees and elongated ball-and-claw feet, this table exhibits the superb characteristics of eighteenth century Philadelphian Rococo; with its short fluted pedestal, bold compressed ball and molded plinth, it also shows variations within the standard Rococo vocabulary.
Known in eighteenth century as a pillar-and-claw table, claw-table, or round-top table, this form, in comparison to tray-top tables, could be place upright against a wall when its use was finished. For a further discussion, see Heckscher, American Furniture In the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Late Colonial Period: The Queen Anne and Chippendale Styles (New York, 1985)p. 190-200.
A related example with similar molded pedestal base, compressed ball, and carved ball and claw feet, although not with fluted pedestal or scalloped top, is illustrated in Sack, American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol. 7, p. 2239, fig. P2634.
Known in eighteenth century as a pillar-and-claw table, claw-table, or round-top table, this form, in comparison to tray-top tables, could be place upright against a wall when its use was finished. For a further discussion, see Heckscher, American Furniture In the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Late Colonial Period: The Queen Anne and Chippendale Styles (New York, 1985)p. 190-200.
A related example with similar molded pedestal base, compressed ball, and carved ball and claw feet, although not with fluted pedestal or scalloped top, is illustrated in Sack, American Antiques from Israel Sack Collection, vol. 7, p. 2239, fig. P2634.