Posted 7 years ago
Alcrawford
(1 item)
I work in a family owned antique shop. I buy stuff that comes in constantly. I loved this piece....The age is obvious, hand carved, magnificent spindels and detailing, gorgeous cherry wood and finish. I loved the raised second shelf. It appeared to me to be a plant stand or a pie stand. But then I took it home. It's heavy... it's about 3 feet long 3 feet tall. When I moved it the top piece moved and I realized it was on a swivel top, only it swiveled about 3 inches to the clockwise and an inch counterclockwise. That's not much of a swivel. Hmm. Game table? Plant stand. The mechanism is 4 blocks of wood that fit into grooves under the base. Any info please and thank you!
Where did you get the idea anything on this is hand carved?
Natural deviations on the rounded designs- both sides should be perfectly symmetric by tool, by hand they have slight differences. Beveled curving show same variations. Carved detailing is freehand....gently curves like cursive writing. Running your fingers along center piece of spindel support finds gentle unleveled surfaces. This was an experienced craftsman. It is extremely well-made. I have a handmade Victorian bookcase that is very distinctive, however, the maker was intermediate in skill. The same types of sanding & carving issues are much more pronounced.
I don't see a lot of age or "hand carving".
A photo of the underside should reveal additional clues to dating to assist in dating.
From what I see, I would think it was late 19th century at the earliest but more likely a 20th century piece.
scott
Scott, you sound very assured, what do you make of the pivot top? It has no full pivot, nor are the blocks made to allow for a full pivot, so it confuses the purpose. I'm going to allow the Edwardian dating, because the style also works for that time period although it was most assuredly crafted, in part, by hand. Regardless, I want to know about this pivot. I'm beginning to wonder if it was a manufacture mistake. Meant to fully pivot, but failed.
Photos of the underside would be helpful in dating and in making a determination about the top.
scott
I think the top was rep[laced and they just forgot to tack down the one side.