Object Description
This is a very fine quality 18th century antique library ‘drum’ table. This library table has a rotating top which means lots of work spread over the writing surface can be accessed by simply spinning the top. This particular table has five drawers, one more than the usual number. The other three are false drawers, which is necessary in order to have parallel drawer sides. The alternative to parallel drawers would be to have a triangular drawer, which is usually a disaster as a triangular drawer is inclined to move sideways and fall out when opened. So how does the fifth drawer in this table work, I hear you ask. Well, it is a triangle, as you can see from the photographs, but in this case the triangular drawer has a runner in the centre underneath which stops it from moving sideways and therefore falling out. The other nice touch is that the fifth drawer has a space for pens. The top rotates using leather bound casters for smooth and silent running. The mahogany used to make this library table is a very fine cut with interesting grain pattern. Although pale in the photos, the timber will be good deep colour when our restorers have finished buffing with natural beeswax. The leather is faded across three quarters of the surface, please let us know whether you would like the leather to be conserved or replaced. This is one of the best drum tables we have seen for a while, with good early outstretched four splay base, early type of Georgian reeding to the legs, oak lined drawers and traces of the original gilding on the caster caps.
English circa 1790 £5,800
29½” / 75cm high
45½” / 116cm wide