Connoisseurship Lesson: Butterfly Tables
In the decades following the great celebration of American’s Centennial in 1876 there was a resurgence of interest in American material goods of all types from the Colonial and Federal periods. Interest in early furniture was particularly strong, led by such entrepreneurs as Wallace Nutting. One of the most favored forms from this early period was the butterfly table, a smaller side or tavern table, usually with canted-legs and stretchers, with D-shaped drop-leaves supported by wing-shaped supports. Because of this popularity dealers frequently modified smaller gate-leg tables into butterfly tables. There are legitimate butterfly tables in the market, but interested parties should carefully evaluate the construction of any such table they encounter as a high percentage of them will have been created from elements originally part of a gate-leg table.
Reference note by p4A.com editorial staff, 05.09.