Unidentified maker, New York State, possibly Albany, NY, or Mohawk Valley
Date:
1749-1763
Maker:
Unidentified maker, New York State, possibly Albany, NY, or Mohawk Valley
Dimensions:
29 1/2 H x 78 W x 71 D (open)
Materials:
Primary wood: mahogany; secondary woods: sweet gum, yellow poplar, white pine
Provenance:
Originally owned by Sir William Johnson (1715-1774), British superintendent of Indian affairs of North America.
Credit:
Gift of the heirs of Major-General John Tayler Cooper
Accession Number:
1899.1
Comments:
This great oval-topped table is a masterpiece of New York early baroque or William and Mary-style table design. It belonged originally to Sir William Johnson, an entrepreneur, politician, and British superintendent of Indian Affairs for North America on New York's western frontier. In this latter role, he would hold important conferences in his home, which logic dictates would have required a substantial table such as this one for meetings. Oval tables with falling leaves at the sides came into popular use in New York in the 1680s, replacing the heavy, rectangular draw-top tables of the preceding era.
