Item 1029 Gothic Dining Table Dimensions Width 63, Height 30½, Depth 48 (in inches) Wood Solid walnut Country France Date Circa 1870 Price $5,995 Description This beautifully hand-carved walnut Gothic table is based on a design found in the archives of the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris and owes its origins to Italian tables of that period mimicking architectural elements of cathedrals, including the rounded arch and fluted columns.  The supporting columns with their diagonal carving give the table its Gothic flair but also hint at the later Louis XIII style which made ample use of twisted columns.  The table's Gothic origins are further anchored by its massive bun feet supporting the elaborately molded “H” stretcher.  This style is also echoed in the massive nature of the top which is solid French walnut with an extraordinary patina and depth.  At one time, the table had leaves to extend its length.  While these have been lost, the legs designed to support them remain built into the underside of the table, as shown in the third photo from the bottom.  For chairs to go with this table, see 9221.  Although difficult to imagine how anything could have knocked off two pieces of the table, the last and penultimate photos show where wood is missing under the base and a support for one of the legs. Reference Thirion, Jacques, Le Mobilier du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance en France (Editions Faton, Dijon, 1998) Uses The table is ideal for a dining room or kitchen but could also function as a library table in a study or a conference room in an office.

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