Antique octagonal pedestal table

Hello, I am looking for ANY help with identifying this table. It is approx 4 ft in diameter and rather short. I can find no makers marks on it. Id like to know aporox age, type of wood, style, and maker if possible. Thank you for any help you can provide!

 

Empire mahogany circa 1840.

 

Wow..really? Not to doubt your expertise..but how can I be sure? Should I look for a specific mark? Thank you so much! I am purchasing for $50.. Do you know what it might be worth in current state? Thanks so much for answering I have scoured google for hours and have gotten nowhere!

 

What Greg said, and ask him before you try to deal with that top. (Poor thing!) Super table!

 

Thank you! I am so excited about this find. I spent hours searching last night and could not find one like it but I did find a few American Empire pieces with similar legs, but the pedestals were much different. I love the "alligator skin" aging and wont do anything to it till I know if I should.. I went searching for a small table to paint for my eat-in kitchen. If you know of any sites that I may find more information, PLEASE share with me

 

If the finish is original don't mess with it except to maybe dust it off.

 

It appears to be original..but I am certainly NOT experienced enough to be certain, I am going to get it today and inspect it better and will take better photos. Thank you!

 

You can tell this is a period piece by the size of the lumber used in the top. Based on the splits, that center board looks to be almost 2 ft. across based on your 48" diameter. There has not been any mahogany used in furniture at that kind of width for at least 150 years. The profiled skirt is typical of the Empire period, as are the legs. The center spindle is a bit unusual and may place this more as a country piece rather than city.

Empire furniture is not much in demand these days. Consequently, your $50.00 price is about right in this condition. In my opinion, it would be a shame to paint this and obscure that mahogany, though I am sure that most will find this more desirable painted these days. Keep in mind, that once painted, the value as an antique in original finish is gone forever. This painting fad will fade at some point. Why not find a more modern piece of used furniture to paint instead?

 

Sorry, I LOVE antiques, but couldn't/wouldn't deal with that top!!!! I PERSONALLY would strip, look at the finish and maybe a light coat of a matching stain, then some Satin Polyurethane for water protection!!! Just IMHO......

 

Well, I went ahead and got the table. When I got it out in the sunlight and had a better look at it, it has some issues that most likely make it not valuable, per say, as an antique piece. I had read that metal brackets were used to sturdy and secure pedestals, but I am pretty certain that these are NOT original to the piece. I have searched it over and am still unable to locate any type of makers mark, there is an area where it looks like there had been a paper label at one time. Also, it seems as though this table also was made to be on casters, which are missing. The best that I can tell, the wood IS solid, not veneer, havent had a chance to inspect the top closer (im working) but the legs are definately not veneer, hard to say (for me) if the finish on legs is original or not, coloration is lighter, redder, but its an old finish, does have tiny "alligator skin aging"..or beading up of finish.. I also dont know if this particular pedestal is even originally paired with the top.. So, I bought it, its worth $50 to me..but now I am uncertain of how I want to proceed with restoration or just scratch trying to save it and paint.. I dont want to paint if yall do think its all original. I will try to reamalgamate the finish? (I dont know what that is, but somebody mentioned that to me and said they will send links to info on how to do it. Ive also been told now, with the new pictures, they dont believe it is as old as first believed, 1930s is what im being told..one person suggested 1860-1880.. But again, I have NO knowledge kn these things.. Still appreciate your help and any info to help me decide how I want to proceed!

 

I happen to Love Empire furniture!

 

Brad can help.

No paint!!

 

Here's the thing: you've got a rather nice, antique table. Rethink its purpose. Move it into the living room, put a good-sized silver tray* on top with a couple of crystal decanters and some elegant glasses. Or, one decanter with sherry and some dear little glasses. (all available on eBay for not very much)

Then take yourself to a few thrift stores and find a more 'kitchenish" table that one can paint with impunity.

*A pretty silver tray hides a good deal if alligatoring!

 

Oh, yikes! Don't paint it. For not much money you can get a glass place - like the ones that replace auto glass - to cut a beveled piece to fit the top. If you absolutely can't live with the alligatoring, put a pretty table cloth under the glass. I personally prefer the original finish no matter what has happened to it in over a hundred years. It has character. Besides, if you ever do want to pass it along, the next owner might be an antique nut who wants the original finish. If you aren't a furniture expert, and most of us aren't, you can't predict what someone else may want. Too many folks who have been influenced by Martha Stewart and her ilk think it's just dandy to throw a coat of paint on an antique in order to turn it into 'décor.' Go to Ikea if you want that kind of thing. Sorry, not criticizing your choices, I just hate to see antiques tampered with if it can be avoided.

 

Hi,
I concur with Bev.
greg

 

Thanks so much to each of you for sharing your opinions and ideas! My name is Kelly, and I live in Arkansas. Thanks for letting my join your forum!

I am convinced that I should NOT paint this lovely table. I absolutely LOVE the alligator skin! I work my tail off trying to recreate this type of character on furniture items that are NOT antiques or special. And im keeping it..forever. When I thought of doing a paint treatment on it, I had only intended to paint the base, not that wonderful top. But ive changed my mind. Now, I need to know what is acceptable to do to bring it back to life? Is re-amalgamation a good option? Im not a glass kind of person, though that was a good suggestion. Should I just start with a good cleaning with Murphy Oil Soap?
Im still hoping that somebody's will be able to confirm its age and wood. Not to discount what any of you have already told me, its just that ive had such a wide variety of opinions ranging from 1840 to 1940 (thats a big difference!) And ive been told Rosewood, Cherry, Mahogany, Walnut. English, Victorian, non-commerically/locally hand crafted... And as for the casters...ive been told white porcelain would have been on it.. Oh, and as I suspected, the metal braces are later additions (which was suggested that I have a professional refinisher to remove and correct)
Im so excited to own this table! My 11 year old son was even excited touching it and said.."so, maybe a hundred years ago somebody had their hand right where mine is?" So proud that he inherited my love of touching history, rather than just knowing or seeing.
Thanks again everyone!
Have Murphy Oil Soap in hand, waiting for the go-ahead to clean it! ;-)

 

Hi,
Go ahead and wash it gently. Then you will know if it needs more work. I used Formley's to resolve the bad finish on a tall case clock. It did do an okay job. I did not do an excellent job since I wanted to keep the current finish. Perhaps all your's will need to make you happy is a really good wax polishing job. I always recommend using a good brand of shoe polish. They are made with carnuba wax which is the best for furniture as far as I am concerned.
greg

 

Formley's? I've heard of Formby's and use it myself.

 

It seems that some of the white-ish areas on the table top are fibers from possibly an old rag, stuck in the finish..its not bad..should I try to lightly 'sand' it out with 0000 steel wool? Or what do you suggest? Also, there are maybe a dozen or so paint specks on 2 legs..i was able to flick a few off with my fingernail..but the rest are stubborn and I dont want to scratch at it..worried mineral spirits wil harm it, or denatured alcohol??

 

If that is indeed a single 2 ft. wide board in the center, I am sticking with well over 100 years old. The height of the American empire period is around 1840 with the style first occurring earlier and lasting for decades after. The style particularly persisted in more rural environments and it would not be unheard of for such a table being made into the 1870s. The fact that this appears to be solid as opposed to veneer and has that odd turned spindle, points to the thought that it could well be a later country example.

New pics of the wood make me think that this could be something besides mahogany. It is hard to tell under that finish. If not mahogany, it has been stained red to mimic mahogany. Mahogany would be the wood of choice for empire furniture so it would make sense. Either way, that wide board points to this being a very old piece.

I am hearing mixed messages from you regarding what would be your aim with the finish. If you want to preserve the old crackled look, I would not do anything more than clean it and apply a coat of paste wax. The oil soap is fine as is mineral spirits. Alcohol or other solvents will begin to cut the finish. When you talk about re-amalgamation of a finish, you are talking about attempting to restore it back more to the look of an original finish. This would alter that aged finish and is more akin to refinishing.