6' Farm Table

Okay, last piece I recently purchased (you know, the blanket chest, step back cupboard, rough and tough side table... I cant help myself )

The top has been replaced. Its older tongue and groove but think from around the same period the table was built, maybe a little newer.
Personally, Im not the biggest fan of how they finished the top, but since I didnt buy this one as a keeper, ehh, oh well, someone will like it.

Its wood pegged together and sturdy.
As far as the legs and base go I do not see any nail construction, but its tight.
Sometimes youll get a little wiggle with these things, not with this..

Its also really light.
My 9 year old helped me lift it on its side and walk it around a corner and through a door really easy.
The poor man who helped me get it out a basement carried it standing straight up, up a flight of stairs (I mean it wasnt like it was on a pinky light, and he was a little winded when he got to the top.. )

Because we have a TON of reproduction farm tables out where we live (like, there are people who have quit their day jobs and opened productive companies in my town to make farm tables..) I want to push this one as being an authentic farm table.

What era would yall say this one was constructed?
Someone said the base looks like its cherry, but cherry is heavy right?
I had a cherry rope bed at one point that was actually pretty heavy for what it was...

If additional pictures are needed I can get them good today, its pretty bright and sunny







The next picture is underneath the table where the top is meeting one of the side boards.
Im going to charge my phone up and definitely get better pictures under there today. Right now I just have a few moments to sit at a computer and type this and wanted to get it posted while I had some down time..

Im not sure if these are circular saw marks or pit saw marks..
The 2nd picture is from a website that gives examples of different saw marks.
Ill put the description of the picture from the website underneath it..

https://inspectapedia.com/structure/Lumber_Cutting_Methods.php

 

Nice table....it has a Shaker look to it. Must be 100+ years old?

 

@verybrad.....you're WANTED!!!!!!!

 

Hepplewhite, 1830-1850, country piece because it appears top has been nailed on judging by the dark stains around holes. Is it pit sawn? maybe but can't be sure from pic's provided. I would add that pit saws were used in Washington DC as late as the Lincoln admin. or 1860s in constructing federal buildings.
If top is nailed, it's a bit odd because legs are attached with mortise & tenon joints and pinned with wood pegs, why isn't top pegged in the same way to the apron?

 

Of course, american country pieces do tend to be quirky or odd because the woodworking skill level ranged from primitive to pretty damn good. It's part of their charm but again, to keep beating a dead horse, you can't authenticate old furniture with pic's alone.

 

Hepplewhite seems to have used all kinds of wood & to have made all sorts of pieces:
https://www.aaawt.com/html/antique_country_tables.html

 

Yep, was. The Hepplewhite period in america (1790-1830) along with Sheraton were the dominate styles during the federal period. In the cities it tended to be quite formal, built from cuban mahogany with satinwood inlays, more rural areas took a different adaptation of the style. The lines are the same but the woods used in country pieces tend toward what was available locally.

 

Okay, so I got some underneath pictures today..

I dont think the top is original to the piece. I would suspect this had maybe a 2 board top, and it would have probably been made from the same wood, no?

And I lied, there are 4 nails that hold the center board, 2 on each side. I saw the tiny little holes when I got a light under there and saw the side nail poking out of the center piece.
Im guessing the board was added to create stability and keep the center from sagging.


Picture of outside nail hole

Picture where the nail went diagonally



One of the nails from the top boards


The center board
The first picture you can definiatly tell its circular saw marks
The second picture is the other side of it, smooth. There is a pencil marking, not sure if its a signature or if a childs mark..




Heres a picture of the skirt boards. First 2 are the outside, last one is the inside





And heres a glimpse of a wood peg from one of the legs

 

Really can't add anything more. The top could be a replacement but is an old one (or made from old lumber) if so. I am seeing straight saw marks, wide-arc circular saw marks, and some that seem hand sawn. Hard to get much info from these if all are present.

 

Yeah, those are called "drawbore" joints because when you bore the hole through the mortise & tenon joint, you offset the hole in the tenon about 1/8" so when you drive the wood peg in, it "draws" the shoulder of the tenon tight! Incredibly strong joint that will last for CENTURIES.

 

One good point about your table if it is drawbore joinery? It's likely to be period because fakers tend to miss details like that.

 

What do you mean by "if it is"?
Im reckoning it is, how do you tell if its not?

 

By examining the joint in person. You can't tell a construction detail like that by looking at a photograph.

 

I see where a very inside corner was chipped/over carved and the peg is running through..

Other than that, I'm not 100 on what else to look at when nothing else is visible to my untrained eye

 

LOL, That's the problem! If you wanna be able to ID period furniture, you gotta study wherever period furniture you are interested in and get you eye trained. There is no other way, you can't do it with pic's & text alone, not gonna happen with hand made one of a kind old furniture.

 

I know..
Around here its held onto for generations or sold privately. Its not too often available to the public..
When Ive seen an ad at a local shop Ill jead over for it to already be snatched up..

Im staging this one for pictures right now before sending it off to my booth.
Still trying to figure a price.
New farm tables this size are ranging $450-$600, Im not sure on what to do with this. I haven't seen any this old priced at market value

 

Yeah, i hear you. Still, that's not bad considering the market today in brown furniture. I go with the higher number ALWAYS! because you can always come down.

 

One thing that may hurt your table value? the top. With those gaps & countersunk holes it creates a lot of spaces that would be difficult to clean. Kinda important for a table that one plans to eat on.

 

Heres one that sold with an original top, a few inches shorter, and not nearly as wide
Sold just shy of $400 w/ buyers premium.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/57056989

I'll dip my toe in around $325-375 >. <

 

Sounds like a plan!