Illustration 266 shows a Sheraton work-table, owned by Mrs. Samuel B. Woodward of Worcester.

Illus. 266. - Sheraton Work-table 1810-1815.

Illus. 267. - Maple and Mahogany Work-tables, 1810-1820.

Illus. 268. - Work-table, 1810.

The carving at the top of the reeded legs is very fine, and the little table is quite dainty enough to serve the purpose for which it was bought, - a wedding gift to a bride. The brass fixtures for the casters are unusually good, but the handles are not original. The top drawer contains a sort of writing desk, besides compartments for sewing materials, and at the side of the table a slide pulls out, which had originally a silk bag attached, to hang below the table. Illustration 267 shows two work-tables of mahogany and bird's-eye maple belonging to Francis H. Bigelow, Esq. Similar tables were common about 1810-1820.

Illustrations 268 and 269 show two work-tables owned by Dwight M.

Prouty, Esq. The legs and frame of the upper table are of mahogany, the box being made of pine and covered with pleated silk. The lower table is more elegant in shape, with a slide, the front of which simulates a drawer, and to this is attached the work bag or box, in this table made of wood, silk-covered, but sometimes made of silk alone.

Illus. 269. - Work-table, 1810.

Illus. 270. - Hepplewhite Dining-table, 1790.

Illustration 270 shows a Hepplewhite dining table, the drop leaf serving to increase the length of the table, when raised and held up by the extra leg, which swings under it. Up to 1800 the dining-table had been made in various styles, in all of which the table legs were more or less in the way of those around the table. In the "hundred-legged" table there seemed to be a table leg for each person. Then came the cabriole leg, also in the way, and finally the Hepplewhite dining-table, which was made in sections, with rounded ends, and four legs on each end.

About 1800 the pillar-and-claw table was invented, which made it possible for several persons to sit around a dining-table without a part of the guests encircling the table legs with their own. These tables were made in pairs or in threes, one after another being added as more room was required. Illustration 271 shows a pillar-and-claw extension dining-table, of mahogany, owned by L. J. Shapiro, Esq. of Norfolk, Virginia. The telescope extension (the same method in use at present) was invented by Richard Gillow, of London, about 1800. The end tables pull apart upon a slide, and extra leaves may be inserted between the ends, held in place by wooden pins.

Illus. 271. - Pillar-and-claw Dining-table, 1800.

The pillar and claw design was most popular and was used for centre tables, bases of piano stools, and even for piano legs (see Illustration 292). A pillar-and-claw mahogany centre table with drop leaves is shown in Illustration 272. The feet are lion's claws, and from this date the lion's or bear's claw foot was used for furniture with carved feet, instead of the bird's claw-and-ball which had been so largely used during the previous century.

Illus. 272. - Pillar-and-claw Dining-table, about 1800.

A splendid dining-table of mahogany is shown in Illustration 273. It is in three sections, each with a base. The legs have a bold spread, and are simply carved in grooves, ending in lion's claws. This fine table is owned by Barton Myers, Esq., of Norfolk, Virginia.

Illustration 274 shows a mahogany dining-table now in the Worcester Art Museum, inherited from the late Stephen Salisbury, Esq. The method of extension is after that of an accordion, and necessitates an astonishing number of legs when not extended, ten in all.

Illus. 273. - Extension Dining-table, 1810.

When the leaves are all in use the table is fourteen feet long, and stands very firmly, the leaves being held together by a brass clamp, seen in the illustration.

A very fine card table owned by Mrs. Clarence R. Hyde of Brooklyn is shown in Illustration 275. It is made of mahogany, with a band of satinwood around the box top. When open, the whole top revolves upon a pivot. The legs are slender and well carved, with lion's feet.

One of the finest of American cabinetmakers was Duncan Phyfe, whose address in the New York directory of 1802 is 35 Partition Street (now Fulton Street). He pursued his business until 1850, employing one hundred workmen. Much of his furniture still exists, notably chairs with lyre backs.

Illus. 275. - Card-table, 1805-1810.

Illus. 276. - Phyfe Card-table, 1810-1820.

A Phyfe card-table owned by Miss H. P. F. Burn-side of Worcester is shown in Illustration 276. The strings of the lyre are of brass, like the lion's feet in which the legs end.

Illus. 277. - Phyfe Card-table, 1810-1820.

A specialty of Phyfe's was a card-table, one of which is shown in Illustration 277. In the illustration the table apparently lacks a fourth leg, as it stands against the wall. But when the top is open, by an interesting mechanism the three legs spread and a brace comes out to support the other half of the top, so that it forms a perfectly proportioned table. Mr. Hagen of New York has an old bill, dated 1816, for two of these tables at sixty dollars apiece. The table in the illustration is owned by Dwight Blaney, Esq. A Phyfe sofa table is shown in Illustration 278, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is very narrow, and was designed, as the name implies, to stand beside a sofa, to hold books, papers, or other articles. The legs end in small lion's feet and are carved, like the posts, with the typical Phyfe leaf. This leaf, so much used by Phyfe, is seen, like the lyre, upon Adam pieces, and apparently the Scotchman, Duncan Phyfe, took the Scotchman, Robert Adam, for his model.

Illus. 278. - Phyfe Sofa Table, 1810.

Illus. 279. - Pier-table, 1820-1830.

The fashion of heavy furniture elaborately carved was more popular in the South than in the North, and the most ornate pieces are found in the South, of later date than the rich carving done in Philadelphia, upon pie-crust tables and high-boys. Heavy posts carved with the acanthus and pineapple and other Empire features found favor. It is probable that during the first quarter of the nineteenth century the wealthy Southern planters refurnished their homes in the prevailing Empire style. The pier-table in Illustration 279 is one of a pair found in Virginia, which were made about 1830. The chief motif in the design seems to be dolphins' heads, which form the feet, and the base of the front supports to the top.

Illustration 280 shows a small work-table of curious shape, with the octagon-shaped interior divided into little boxes for sewing-materials. The middle compartment extends down into the eight-sided pillar. The work-boxes are covered by the top of the table, which lifts upon hinges. This table belongs to Mrs. E. A. Morse of Worcester.

Illus. 280. - Work-table, 1810-1820.