XIII
TABLES
TEA drinking was introduced into the colonies in an early period, and became popular in the South. Card playing was perhaps the chief diversion of the men, and women likewise indulged in the sport. The almost pressing need for tables for such purposes made tea and card tables in abundance a necessity; but their use was not always confined to the purpose for which they were made, serving as they did for breakfast and supper table. These tables were a combination of charm and convenience.
The only tables made especially for tea drinking were those with the raised rim or gallery, to prevent the china, fragile as it was, from slipping off the table. The exceptionally small gate-leg table served the purpose of a tea table admirably. Tea tables are mentioned in inventories as early as 1722, during which period were made tavern tables with splayed legs, making them difficult to tip over. Claypoole, in South Carolina, in 1740, made "all sorts of tea tables." The first real table having a raised rim made its appearance in the Queen Anne period. It is a type of old table rarely found today; but it is a popular style used by modern manufacturers.
The butterfly table, a solely American design, is said never to have been found outside of New England, but one purchased in Columbia, South Carolina, a few years ago, of the trestle type, as shown by sketch, was examined in the course of this study and found to be made of Southern walnut throughout, with Southern pine used in the crossbar underneath the top. This table is now in a prominent collection. Proof may be adduced from the finding of this table that traveling cabinetmakers came South very early.
In the Chippendale period came what is known as the pie-crust table. This had a scalloped top with raised rim, set upon
Walnut butterfly table
a tripod. These are also very rare. The English tables of this type were elaborately carved, but the Southern examples are plain, and devoid of carving on the knees. The Pembroke table, named presumably for the lady at whose order the first one was made, originated in England at this time. It has four square legs, with a drop-
