Early 19th Century 'Cumberland' Mahogany Dining Table by David Edwards

Object Description

Early 19th Century ‘Cumberland’ Mahogany Dining Table by David Edwards
English, early 19th Century
Dimensions: Height 71cm, width 397cm, depth 131cm

This ‘Cumberland’ table, possibly named after Windsor’s Cumberland Lodge, is an extendable table made by Regency period manufacturer David Edwards.

The rectangular table sits on four castor feet and features founded corners on each end of the table top. It is extended with concertina action, and features four leaves on further tapered legs. Each of these has brass castors, clips and plaques inscribed with the following: ‘EDWARDS PATENT NE PLUS ULTRA DIEU ET MON DROIT’

At its shortest length the table is 144cm, and when fully extended, the table reaches 397cm in length. Each of the leaves used to adjust the table length are approximately 63cm in length, so can be removed or added as required to achieve the desired table size.

Object Literature

1) C. Jones, Colefax & Fowler – The Best in English Interior Decoration, New York, London, a.o., 3rd edn., 1998, p. 182 (illustrated).

2) The die-stamped patent label of the King Street cabinet-maker David Edwards (d. 1848) appears in similar reed-framed tablets on the trestle pillars of other tables with Grecian-scrolled ‘claws’ (C. Gilbert, The Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, figs. 310-312).

3) This form of expanding table has been named a ‘Cumberland’ table, possibly after Cumberland Lodge, Windsor. In the early 1820’s Edwards is listed in George IV’s Household Accounts, which are now preserved in the Windsor Archives (C. Gilbert and G. Beard, The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p. 269).

Object Details