Dining Table

Unidentified maker, New York State, possibly Albany, NY, or Mohawk Valley Maker

1749-1763 Date:

Primary wood: mahogany; secondary woods: sweet gum, yellow poplar, white pine Materials

29 1/2 H x 78 W x 71 D (open) Dimensions

Originally owned by Sir William Johnson (1715-1774), British superintendent of Indian affairs of North America. Provenance

Gift of the heirs of Major-General John Tayler Cooper Credit

1899.1 Accession number

This great oval-topped table is a masterpiece of New York early baroque or William and Mary-style table design. It belonged originally to Sir William Johnson, an entrepreneur, politician, and British superintendent of Indian Affairs for North America on New York's western frontier. In this latter role, he would hold important conferences in his home, which logic dictates would have required a substantial table such as this one for meetings. Oval tables with falling leaves at the sides came into popular use in New York in the 1680s, replacing the heavy, rectangular draw-top tables of the preceding era. Additional comments

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