There is more than meets the eye with this exceptional George III-period table. Crafted of luxurious mahogany and aged to a rich patina, this table opens to reveal not one, but two different surfaces. Lift the first top to use the table as a tea table, and when tea is over, lift the second top and play a game of cards on the green baize-lined surface, which is complete with sunken wells for chips. Outset corners provide the perfect place to rest a teacup, and a gate-leg swings out to support the hinged tops securely. Exhibiting the best of traditional Georgian design, the cabriole legs are accented with acanthus and end in ball-and-claw feet, while a frieze drawer adds to the table’s incredible functionality. A staple in homes during the 18th and 19th centuries, when entertaining at home was of primary social importance, these tables were crafted in a multitude of styles. Folding tables such as this, especially 18th-century examples, are particularly prized by collectors today.
