French 17th Century Bridge Plank Trestle Table

Description

Bought in 1983 from Stern Antiques at 329 Royal Street in New Orleans. Henry Stern, a legend on Royal street … more Bought in 1983 from Stern Antiques at 329 Royal Street in New Orleans. Henry Stern, a legend on Royal street for quality and rare pieces, sold me the table himself. Mr Stern loved to tell the history of his inventory. Always with a unique story of where a piece had come from. I was told he was on a buying trip in the South of France, and made a deal with the Abbot of a Monastery. He was there on a day they were cleaning the floors and their work room. There were 6 work tables and they struggled to move them about. Mr Stern convinced them he would replace their tables; with much better, larger tables to work on, keep clean and move when needed. He, as well, agreed to pay them well, for the 'old, heavy' tables. The Abbot of the enclave agreed and the 6 tables came back to New Orleans' worldwide famous Antique district, Royal Street, in the French Quarter.
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The paper work from Stern Antiques reads 'French 17th Century Style Monastery table, made from 17th Century Oak Bridge Timbers'. I made a living for over 40 years dealing with old virgin lumber. I know old wood. I have a respect for it and the history behind it. (Note: One of the pictures displayed here is of a thousand year old recovered sinker cypress log. My company retrieved and milled the old giants. Notice the trees axe cut bottom.) This tree was cut down in Louisiana, probably in the mid 1700's. Untold number of giant trees scattered about the planet, did not survive mans reach; unless inaccessible or on privately owned land. The oak that this table came from, was from the same 'family' of giant trees...

The top of this table is one board, not 2, 3 or 4 boards...Just 'ONE' board.. In the 1600's a plank like this was cut with a 'Pit saw'. Which means a huge white Oak timber, probably 1000+ year old tree, was felled by axe, (like my picture) its branches cut off and the rounded tree was rolled over a deeply dug pit. Then a long, hand pulled band saw was used to slab out the tree. A man was in the pit and another man positioned himself on top of the tree. The two men would cut that tree into rough sawn planks. Oxen would drag the sawn slab out and away. Another cut was made...and so on. All into wide, heavy planks. They were building a bridge!

I love this table. It's history. Its 'lives', as it went from one use to another. I raised my 3 children around it for 30 years. Daily meals and holidays. Family and guests. Seating 6 comfortably. 8 if needed. The same vintage Pulaski embossed seats, are offered up for sale as well. As we downsized homes, I used the table as a single desk top in my antique lumber business. A place to read blue prints and a conversation piece about old wood, when clients came in. No one had ever seen anything like it. It is very rare to see a used and recycled piece of solid wood that has this pedigree. A PERFECT DESK TOP FOR THAT SPECIAL ENTREPRENEUR. Especially one used for over 350 years. As a bridge plank for commerce, work table for a Christian order of monks, a dining table for a family, and then a private desk top.

Golden White Oak. The single top measures 33.5" wide, The plank top is 2.5" thick. It was taken to a finshed thickness by hand 'gouge chisels'. (Blow up the picture of the table in its up-side down assembly position and look for the gouge chisel marks. Hand chisels were the way they took a piece of wood to a finished thickness...A tell tale sign, that antique dealers look for to determine a wooden pieces age... 79" in length. Golden/brown in color. I never refinished it. We simply cleaned it. Oiling the table with wood wax/oil from time to time.. It seats 6 comfortably, as shown. The table weighs over 300+ pounds and has been recycled now for over 300+ years. As priced, or best offer. The Chairs can be bought separately. less