Incredible piece, thanks for sharing. Has it been restored at all over the years or that is all original finish? Also wondering how flat the top has stayed over the years, being so massive? Was wood strictly air dried back then or did they use any sort of kiln?
Thank you. It has been refinished, possibly by the museum. It currently has a very thin, clear finish layer, not an accumulated layer surface with dirt layers in-between that is seen on objects that have not had finish removed. There is slight abrasion to the carving which may have occurred during the finish removal. Prior to the 1976 Bicentennial, the museum removed old, historic finish from a number several objects and coated them with modern nitrocellulose lacquer. The table has a similar appearance to those objects. I'll cover that story in a later article.
Otherwise, there has been little to no restoration. The top is still almost perfectly flat, though slight movement in the surface due to the figuring was likely removed during the refinishing process. The top is an excellent study of mahogany graining. It is ribbon striped grain on on side and bees wing graining on the other.
Yes, wood was air dried at that time, no kilns were involved, so the top board had to air dry for at least a year after it was sawn to thickness. The processing, drying, and moisture content in preindustrial furniture is a complicated subject that could fill a book, let alone a two thousand word article.
Thank you. It's massive and very heavy. The top is not recessed like the majority of round tea tables and stands. It's a two-person job to remove it from the pillar.
Incredible piece, thanks for sharing. Has it been restored at all over the years or that is all original finish? Also wondering how flat the top has stayed over the years, being so massive? Was wood strictly air dried back then or did they use any sort of kiln?
Thank you. It has been refinished, possibly by the museum. It currently has a very thin, clear finish layer, not an accumulated layer surface with dirt layers in-between that is seen on objects that have not had finish removed. There is slight abrasion to the carving which may have occurred during the finish removal. Prior to the 1976 Bicentennial, the museum removed old, historic finish from a number several objects and coated them with modern nitrocellulose lacquer. The table has a similar appearance to those objects. I'll cover that story in a later article.
Otherwise, there has been little to no restoration. The top is still almost perfectly flat, though slight movement in the surface due to the figuring was likely removed during the refinishing process. The top is an excellent study of mahogany graining. It is ribbon striped grain on on side and bees wing graining on the other.
Yes, wood was air dried at that time, no kilns were involved, so the top board had to air dry for at least a year after it was sawn to thickness. The processing, drying, and moisture content in preindustrial furniture is a complicated subject that could fill a book, let alone a two thousand word article.
great post & photos - massive yet refined piece of furniture
Thank you. It's massive and very heavy. The top is not recessed like the majority of round tea tables and stands. It's a two-person job to remove it from the pillar.