English Chippendale Period Concertina Action Card Table, Circa 1790

Chippendale period mahogany card table that opens with a concertina action which is a hinged folding framework to support the flap (see detail). When the table is open there is a solid frieze all around. The frieze is carved in blind fretwork in the chinoiserie taste. The edges are also carved with a large bead pattern. The interior is lined in a green baize.

The earliest type of table especially designed for cards was introduced at the end of the 17th century.   The first tables had round fold-over tops with a turned back leg that swung out to support the flap.   But it looked incomplete when open.   Around 1720 the concertina action was introduced on the finest tables which ensured greater stability and symmetry. This meant that when the table was fully extended there was a solid frieze all around and the legs were evenly spaced with a leg in each corner.  This makes it much more comfortable to sit at for long periods of time.

• English Circa 1780
• Height: 28" | Width: 35" | Depth: 17"
• Item #5963
• Price: $10,000