Cabin Table With Washstand

A mahogany Cabin Table with washstand fittings.

The design of this Washstand Table is much like that of a Cabin Table except it has a cupboard along with drawers. The top can be extended in the same manner with a loper to each side to support the raised side flaps. The middle section, much like a Ship's Table design, can be lifted up, to be held by a brass hinged support, to reveal cutouts to take a washbowl and soap dish etc.

Next to the cupboard is a thin, tall drawer with a divider towards the front which was likely for a bottle. Below is a full width drawer with a lock. The cupboard and the thin drawer are not locked with keys but by lifting the key pin which slides the lock's bolt up. Both drawers are mahogany lined. The sides and back of the Cabin Table are panelled and it stands on simple square section legs, chamfered to their inside corner.

To the inside of the cupboard door is a label giving the details of 'Spillman & Co. Furnishers, St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C.2'. Spillman weren't the makers of this piece of travel furniture but were furniture dealers in the early 20th century. They had started off as cabinet makers in the 19th century but evolved their business. This table would have been sold as second hand and would have unlikely to have been considered an antique at the time.

This is an interesting piece of furniture as it is a cross between a Cabin and a Ship's Table giving it three uses - a table, a washstand and storage. For the travel, on board ship, it's multi use would have been space saving and practical. Early to mid 19th century.

Folded size is given. The top extends to 42 1/2 inches (108 cm).