Georgian Ship's Table

A mahogany portable table likely to have been designed for use by a Naval Officer.

Much like the Naval Chair, this table has been made to dramatically reduce in size whilst still remaining as one piece. Whereas the Naval Chair concertinas flat on hinges to its side rails, the apron rails on two sides of this table are hinged to fold in towards the centre so that the legs meet and the table is 'flat packed'. Two hinges are used to each corner where the side rails meet and the top of the leg and the rail are both rebated to fit within each other. The width of the table is reduced by nearly 34 inches to 5 1/4 when folded. This ability to pack and remove furniture quickly was important on board a ship with cannon in most quarters. This was not necessary for an army officer who had more time to unscrew legs etc. to pack a table to an even smaller size into a case.

The brass hinges to this table are interesting as they are not standard or set where you might first expect them to be. The two parts to the top lift up from the centre of the table to fold out over 270 degrees to rest against the legs. To achieve this, standard hinges could not be used. The top has unusual brass hinges set to the edge of the top and to the top of the leg. The apron rails that concertina in to fold the table have a brass hinge set in to both the top and bottom of the rail. To fix the table in position for use, the underside of each top board has a pair of blocks. These sit within and against the inside of the hinged apron rails to prevent them from folding in. The two edges of the top that meet to the middle of the table are cut with a pair of mortice joints to one side and short, rounded tenons to the other to line up correctly. One half of the top can be raised to an angle for working at, much like a writing slope. A block set in to each side of the folding apron rail lifts on a single knuckle joint. They are cut to an angle to support one leaf at a slant.

The table is quite plain with a wonderful Georgian understatement to it. The only decoration is to the two-inch square section legs which are cut with a chamfer to the inside edge. The table is well made with good quality mahogany and that is enough. Added to this, it is a wonderful, early piece of campaign furniture. Circa 1760.