Antique Rococo Revival Parlor Table With Removable Tray Top

Details

Description

On another antique hunt right here in Florida, my husband and I found this in a Ft. Pierce home. The … Read more On another antique hunt right here in Florida, my husband and I found this in a Ft. Pierce home. The owner had died, and the family was selling the contents of the home. We fell in love with the removable tray top but decided not to add glass to the table.
This find is a late Victorian to early Edwardian Rococo Revival parlor table (c. 1880-1910) that features rich hand-finished carving, cabriole legs with claw feet, and a pierced apron with scrolling detail. The table's removable tray top is fitted with a recessed edge, originally designed to hold a glass insert (not present), with the original wood panel beneath still intact.

Crafted primarily of walnut, as seen by the straight grain and medium-brown tones of the underside, we can see that this shows a properly fitted solid panel--not a filler-- and is another indication of typical late 19th to early 20th-century Rococo Revival parlor tables. The table showcases its age with a warm patina, hand-carved details, and classic 19th-century joinery.

The ornate scalloped rim and floral carving reflect the elegance of Victorian parlor entertaining, where such tables were used to serve tea or display decorative objects. Hand carving is determined by tool marks and irregular chisel entry-exit points in the apron scroll and pierced areas. (see detail photos)
With respect to the joinery, we can observe where the rim of the tray locks in, and is consistent with handmade or hand-finished construction.

Condition: Wear consistent with age, including finish losses, small cracks, and surface scratches (see photos). Solid and stable, ready for use as-is, or could be enhanced with a custom glass insert cut to fit the tray rim. One leg is incrementally shorter than the others, but we have had this table for 10 years as a decorative item with objects placed on it, and have never had any problems with stability of the piece.

Dimensions:
Width/circumference of table top: 22"
Total height: 21"
Height of top edging detail: 5.25"

This piece is both decorative and functional, offering old-warm charm and craftsmanship that works beautifully in traditional, eclectic, or romantic interiors. See less