Table
Unknown Artist
1878–84
Medium
Bird's-eye maple, maple, tulip poplar
Dimensions
30 1/4 x 28 in. (76.8 x 71.1 cm)
Classification
Table
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Friends of the American Wing Fund, 1986
Accession Number
1986.47.2
Art Historical Context
This elegant table, crafted between 1878 and 1884 by an unknown American maker, exemplifies the refined furniture traditions of the late 19 century. Standing at just 30 1/4 by 28 inches, it is a compact piece likely designed for a parlor or entryway, showcasing the craftsmanship of American workshops during the Gilded Age. The use of bird's-eye maple highly prized domestic wood with its distinctive, shimmering flecked grain—combined with maple and tulip pop, highlights the era's appreciation for native materials that lent both beauty and durability to household furnishings. In the context of ...