Table - Jacobean, jacobean-revival or something else?

Hi folks,

I'm new to these forums and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction in identifying a table I bought recently.

Basically it's oak, with hand carved lunettes on the top, carved decorative aprons and slightly splayed legs. I would think it was Jacobean were it not for the fact the base is attached to the legs via screws (albeit old looking ones). However, the screws seem to be 'out of place' in the circular holes in which they reside, so maybe they've been added at a later date to replace the original fastenings.

I presume it's Victorian, but it's looks too old and 'hand made' to be a late Victorian Jacobean-revival table. Also it has a number, 9795, carved into the underside of the top - which doesn't mean anything to me. Consequently I'm a little stumped.

If anyone has any ideas/pointers I'd really appreciate your comments.

Thanking you in advance ...

Alan

 

I don't see anything to suggest that this is a period piece. I would think early 20th century. The large holes for the screws are a way to inset the screws to avoid splitting out the rails. It is the way it is sometimes done when one doesn't have the proper tools to do it a better way. Consequently, this may have been made in a smaller shop or by a talented student/amateur. It is the kind of thing that might have been made during the arts and crafts period.

 

Thanks for that. I nevered considered arts & crafts but it makes sense. I know it's not machine made (not enough consistency) so a smaller shop/craftsman makes sense. The 'rough working' of it may have fooled me a little, and also it's appears to have a shellac coating which let me to guess it was 19c or earlier. Thanks also for the info re the screws and proper tools required - makes sense.

Just somyou know, BTW, it's an English piece - I'm British - but I assume similar styles/techniques would apply for English or US furniture of a specific period.

Thanks again ...

Regards,
Alan

 

I assumed it was probably English. Also makes perfect sense with your guild shops and such. We had some of this but not nearly as much. This is also a style not emulated much over here until later and, then, mass produced without the hand carving.