Figure 742 shows a bedside-table, the property of the late Mrs. Frank H. Bos-worth, of New York. The top has the tray edge. There are three drawers, and the piece stands on small cabriole legs terminating in Dutch feet.

The second variety of tea-table has the tripod base. They are found in great numbers and commonly have either a plain, a dish, a pie-crust, or a scalloped top.

We find an advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette for July 7, 1737, of tea-table bolts which could have referred to no other type than this.

Tables of this sort were made in many sizes, from the large tea-table to the little candle-stands. The tripod form of construction, though graceful, is faulty, because a strain on the top tends to spread the legs and break them from their sockets.

For this reason many of them have iron supports on the under side of the turned centre, strengthening the legs.

The larger tables of this type tilt and many of them both tilt and turn. The tops almost invariably are cut from a single plank of wood, and the edge, if any, is cut from the solid and not applied.

Figure 743 shows a tripod-table with a tray top, the property of the Tiffany Studios. The name is derived from the raised edge cut from the solid. The legs are plain and terminate in bird's claw and ball feet.

The type of tripod-table most sought for is in the form commonly called pie-crust because of the curving on the raised edge. The almost universal edge is a repetition of .1 segment of .1 circle, a recessed half-round, and .1 terpentine curve. The relative size of these curves vary in different pieces, giving them a different appearance, hut upon analysis they will be found to contain the above combination.

Figure 742. Bedside-Table, second quarter eighteenth century.

Tripod-Table with tray top, second quarter eighteenth century.

Figure 744 shows a plain pie-crust table in the possession of the writer. The top is about twenty-eight inches in diameter and both tilts and turns. The piecrust edge is in the conventional form above described and the turned pedestal and legs are plain.

Figure 744. Tripod-Table with pie-crust top, 1750-75-.

Figure 745. Tripod-Table with pie-crust top, 1750-75.

Figure 745 shows a more ornate pie-crust table in the writer's possession. The top is in the usual form and both tilts and turns. The base has a fluted column and the bulb is carved in an acanthus-leaf design, and on the torus moulding between is a border carved in a design alternating a leaf and a flower. On the knees are carved long acanthus leaves extending nearly to the feet, and on the base between the legs is carved a foliated C scroll. The legs terminate in bird's claw and ball feet.

Another pie-crust table, the property of Mr. George S. Palmer, of New London, is shown in Figure 746. The top is conventional except that the segment curve is a little longer than usual. On the base is a spiral fluting and just above the bulb is a godrooned edge. The lower sections of the bulb are carved in a leaf pattern as is also the small torus moulding below. On the legs are carved acanthus leaves and a cartouche. The legs terminate in bird's claw and ball feet.

Figure 747 shows a pie-crust table where the recessed half circles are accentuated in a manner which quite changes the appearance of the piece, and yet it will be seen to contain a repetition of the three conventional curves above referred to. On the bulb are carved acanthus leaves and on the small torus moulding is carved the egg-and-dart pattern. The knees are carved in the acanthus-leaf design and the legs terminate in animal's claw and ball feet. This table is the property of Mr. Richard A. Canfield.

Figure 746. Tripod-Table, pie-crust top, 1750-75.

A variation of a pie-crust edge is shown in Figure 748. The maker, instead of following the series of curves usually employed, has cut the edge in a series of small double ogee curves, within which is a simple raised edge, such as is found on a dish-top table.

The pie-crust tables above shown are the regular type and the simpler modifications. Figure 749 shows one developed to its highest perfection. The edge is composed of a repetition of the double cyma curve and a segment of a circle, but without the concave section which is found in the ordinary type. The edge is carved in a moulding intended to represent lions' teeth, and on the highest point is carved a rope moulding. Inside, next to the plain surface, is a delicately carved acanthus-leaf border. The column of the base is fluted, below which is a lion-tooth border, then a pearl bead edge and an acanthus-leaf moulding similar to that on the edge of the top. The bulb is ornamented with well-carved acanthus leaves. Above the column is a pearl bead edge and an egg-and-dart moulding. On the knees are carved lions' heads and paws. The legs are composed of a series of C scrolls and terminate in scroll feet. The surfaces below the lions are carved in a raised acanthus-leaf pattern and the sides in rococo. This table is the property of Mr. Richard A. Canfield and is, of course, English.

Figure 747. Tripod-Table, pie-crust top, 1750-75.

Figure 748. Tripod-Table, ogee edge, 1750-75.

Figure 749. Tripod-Table, Chippendale style, 1750-60.