Tripod Table
The elegant tripod or “pillar and claw” table has remained in fashion and manufacture from early Georgian times. Originally the table developed from the candlestand, whose three feet were considered more stable than a single pedestal candlestick. It was this stability and their convenient size that made tripod tables ideal for entertaining.
Mahogany was the principal wood adopted for tripod tables from the middle of the 18th century through to the Victorian period, although they were often elaborately embellished with other materials. Many of these tables were veneered, topped with a thin strip of good quality wood, to give a grained surface. Originally this was an expensive decorative effect, but later, it was used to give cheaper wood a more expensive finish.
The top of the table could reach a considerable size and sometimes had a rim to catch spills and prevent objects from sliding off.
The tilt top feature was already in use in 1740. This allowed the table to be truly “occasional”, since it could be stored upright in a corner or flat against a wall. The tilt top became popular with the early Victorians, but as the designs became heavier and more elaborate so they became unsuited to this fragile means of support. Square, rectangular and octagonal-topped pedestal tables became more common.
The Regency period introduced a design which suited the Victorians for practical purposes. The turned pillar was mounted directly on a floor-level pedestal. This made the tables more stable and able to withstand the knocks of bulky Victorian dresses!
By the turn of the century, the heavier treatment of the Victorian style had been rejected in favour of 18th century simplicity. The workmanship in these revival pieces is not as delicate and often the tops are larger in proportion to their supports. Many of the tripod tables surviving today are from this revival, and while they may lack authentic origins, they can blend into the style of almost any modern room.
