Solid Mahogany Late American Classical or Empire? Table

[ghopper1924]

I would add that american late classical is most often large chunks of band sawed pine which is then veneered with mahogany. This style of furniture was one of the first to be marketed as "ready made furniture" (machine made) and was popular in america for over half a century, 1850-1900.

The reason it is mistaken for american Empire is, it has the same curving lines as empire but none of the elaborate carving and thus, much less expensive to make.

Once again.....there you go!

[ghopper1924]

What does 16th century American furniture look like ?

Not much, since America wasn't "settled" until 1620.

[jacon4]

Actually, 1609 in Jamestown Virginia however, just because europe did it longer doesn't mean they did it better, BAM!

[Ipcress]

What does 16th century American furniture look like ?

Not much, since America wasn't "settled" until 1620.

That's my point 

Yanks...

[ghopper1924]

Actually, 1609 in Jamestown Virginia however, just because europe did it longer doesn't mean they did it better, BAM!

And that's MY point. Brits.......

The 19th century proves that Americans did it better, and all the better for only a few centuries of precedent.

[jacon4]

Yanks RULE! Let's just tell it like it is, not how you want it to be. lol

[jacon4]

There is a really good book out that offers a look into 19th century wood working in England, the "Joiner & Cabinet Maker"
 "The Joiner and Cabinet Maker," this short book was written by an anonymous tradesman and tells the fictional tale of Thomas, a lad of 13 or 14 who is apprenticed to a rural shop that builds everything from built-ins to more elaborate veneered casework. The book was written to guide young people who might be considering a life in the joinery or cabinetmaking trades, and every page is filled with surprises."

http://www.lostartpress.com/product_p/bk-jacm01.htm

One of the surprising things that this book reveals is, in England, the guild system was so powerful they continued building furniture by hand until the 1930s! If correct, thats incredible considering we  had been building furniture by machine since the 1850s, almost a century earlier.

[ghopper1924]

That IS correct, and it wasn't just in England. Whether that's a good or bad thing is a matter of opinion.

[guywire]

Where can I find the newspaper clippings of advertisements to Meeks type furniture? I'm finding references to them but not any images. Are they in a particular book? I'm surprised they aren't available on the internet considering they'd clearly be public domain, or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places.

[mart]

It is indeed correct,, many pieces of English furniture of that time show hand cut joinery !!

[ghopper1924]

I believe that the first published reference for Meeks was actually for a coffin. There is also a record for a broadside they published that mentioned all kinds of furniture, but I'm not sure that it included pictures.

The fact is, whether your table is Empire or Empire Revival, a positive attribution is extremely difficult without a label of some sort. You could say "attributed to" but your table type is common enough that coming up with a definite "Meeks  trait" is very unlikely in a sea of other manufacturers.

The problem is compounded by the fact that there are no monographs on Meeks and that much of the firm's work has until recently been confused with that of John Henry Belter, with whom J and J Meeks were contemporary.

[mart]

As generic as these things are,, even an attribution would be difficult !!  I would just say "in the style of" and leave it at that !!  No huge money involved anyway !!

[bigwull]

Yanks RULE! Let's just tell it like it is, not how you want it to be. lol

methinks you a treading on dangerous ground,with a statement like that....

[frogpatch]

When I look at this piece of Meeks & Son it appears that the top is all wrong for the style. almost as if it were a marriage. Or as jacon4 said a later example. Even in a later example you would think they would stick with the basic lines.
 http://www.americanclassical.net/janda/products/products_details.php?productid=331&ptitle=Classical%20Meeks%20Labeled%20table%20SOLD

This one was sold. Please note there is no elaborate carving and it is from the 1835 period though

[ghopper1924]

Yanks RULE! Let's just tell it like it is, not how you want it to be. lol

methinks you a treading on dangerous ground,with a statement like that....

Well spoken, and from a great candidate to be our 51st state, scenic Scotland!!!