A MID-VICTORIAN OAK CIRCULAR EXTENSION DINING-TABLE

CIRCA 1850, BY JOHNSTONE & JEANES

Details

A MID-VICTORIAN OAK CIRCULAR EXTENSION DINING-TABLE
Circa 1850, by Johnstone & Jeanes
The circular top extending to incorporate eight extra leaves on a baluster-turned stem with a gadrooned collar on a quadripartite incurving base applied with metal rosettes and berried foliate scrolled feet, on later bun feet formerly with casters, central brass fixture inscribed JOHNSTONE AND JEANES PATENTEES and stamped Johnston and Jeanes/New Bond St./London, brass mounts on feet stamped PAYER &/MACKENZIE/April 1, 1819, together with original case for leaves
28in. (71cm.) high, 58in. (147cm.) diameter, closed, 85in. (215cm.) extended

Lot Essay

This form of table was invented by Robert Jupe, upholder of 47 Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, who applied for a patent for a circular extending dining table with a segmented top (No. 6788) in March of 1835. The description for it stated: "An improved expanding table so constructed that the sections composing its surface may be caused to diverge from a common centre and that the spaces caused thereby may be filled up by inserting leaves or filling pieces. The table, when expanded, forms usually a round: but it may be arranged for form an oval or oblong." The first examples of this type of table were produced between 1835 and 1840 by John Johnstone of New Bond Street. After 1842 the firm changed its name to Johnstone & Jeanes, the makers of the present table. Several similar examples are reproduced in C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, pp. 283-286. Another example stamped by Johnston, Jupe & Co. with its original leaf-cabinet was also sold in these Rooms, 17 October, 1997, lot 91.