Pre-Civil War Architectural Carving - MUST SEE

[-JBergs-]

I knew I had to get this up here as soon as I saw this...

I just picked up a 9' long Walnut Table with hand carved base/legs which dates back to 1796...I'm in the process of researching its history in greater depth and have a lot of info still to find.

If anyone can help identify any of the elements of the table or carving, or perhaps the mark of the manufacturer - PLEASE DO TELL!

Check out the photo's!

All feedback is greatly appreciated!

SOME TECHNICAL INFO:

The table top is approx. 9' long by 42" wide and is about 2"+ thick...the bases/legs are 28” high and approx 4” thick … I was able to take the top off easily as the owner already had the hardware taken out...after removing the top I was able to get a closer look at the two bases/legs and the two stretchers that ran parallel to each other in between each base to support the large top...it was under one of these stretchers that I noticed the year and perhaps the manufacturer's mark...the years is stamped 1796 as you'll see in the photos and the mfr mark appears to be a circle with 3 letters in it: H, S, and A ... the legs are all hand carved, as shown - you could still see the tool marks.

The owner has had it since 1977 - he said it was donated... He was told it dates back to a Southern Mansion in the Civil War... in all that time he may have never gotten a good look at its underside -at least not well enough to see the marks I saw...

A very interesting piece...

[LisaS]

Don't see any photos or links.

[-JBergs-]

So sorry - It was late and I began posting this in bed...I just forgot... but here are the pic's...

[Irish]

J! I don't know anything about the original wood worker or his shop BUT ... don't do anything to that table until you have an antiques dealer look at it and appraise it.

The value of so many antiques is destroyed by someone doing a restoration on them. All that dirt, all that split veneer and even the warped, cracked top adds high dollar figures to the value of the piece.

So ... send photos to the Antique Road Show before you do even one more thing with that table or you may end up with one of those ... "It's worth $300 but if you hadn't restored it you would be looking at $13,000!"

Susan

[gtech]

I love it.

And it is absolutely right about restoring. My wife has an antique clock that was painted by the original owner and restored by the next owner. It is not worth a lot anymore as an antique. It's the same for an old guitar I had. It was restored to be made playable instead of left vintage.

Gilles