October, 1919 
31 
continuous base as well as a brace 
between the feet. The space be¬ 
tween the top of this stretcher and 
the under side of the table was 
frequently filled with elaborate 
pierced carving, extending all the 
way from one truss to the other, or 
else with carved arcading, the bases 
of the little pillars or colonettes 
resting upon the stretcher. 
A variation of this style of table 
had pillared supports at the ends— 
usually a pair or a triplet at each 
end—instead of the ornately carved 
trusses. The space between, the 
pillared end supports was occupied 
by a row of much smaller pillars, 
with or without arcading, which 
rested (as in the closely related 
form previously described) upon 
the heavy stretcher base that formed 
a continuous and exceedingly stable 
substructure with the transverse 
end bases. In some of these tables 
the stout end pillars, the bases, the 
colonettes and the arcading were 
richly carved. In others the pillars 
at the ends, and the connecting 
row of colonettes, displayed simple 
baluster turnings, the whole gen¬ 
eral appearance closely approxi¬ 
mating the Italian prototype. 
Tables of this design, necessarily 
(Above) A canopied bed¬ 
stead showing the char¬ 
acteristics which mark the 
period 
Louis XVI console cabinet of 
marqueterie with ormolu mounts 
Louis XV console cabinet of par¬ 
quet t e d veneer and ormolu 
oblong from the very nature of 
their structure, could readily be 
made as long as desired and thus 
serve the same function as the long 
refectory tables of England or the 
corresponding Italian types. 
(2) The pillar-legged or colo- 
nette-legged type of table was also 
oblong in shape. It had sometimes 
as many as eight or nine slender 
supports connected and braced by 
stretchers and arranged in the 
manner shown in the illustrations. 
The stretchers were generally two 
or three inches from the floor. 
Tables of this type were made 
either to stand against a wall or 
to stand out in the room. When 
intended for the latter purpose and 
for use as dining tables the stretch¬ 
ers were arranged so as not to in¬ 
terfere with the feet of the sitters. 
The tops of these tables were fre¬ 
quently of the draw type so that 
their seating capacity could be 
practically doubled. Thus a table 
that would seat four or six without 
the draw leaves extended could 
readily accommodate ten or even 
more with the draws pulled out. 
Draw tables of this pattern might 
advantageously be used now for 
(Continued on page 98) 
(Center) Washington’s 
L o u i s XVI — Directoire 
rolltop desk of mahogany 
and inlay 
A commode in the style of Louis XV of figured walnut veneer 
with carved and gilt legs and apron. Pennsylvania Museum 
A Louis XV Bahut or console cabinet; shaped front and sides, marble 
top, sides of checkered wood marqueterie, gilt bronze mounts and legs 
