George III Mahogany Tea Table with Inverted Top

• Foldover - A term used when describing card, tea or games tables, where the top folds over onto itself when not in use. The interior surfaces that are exposed when the top is open may be polished (in the case of tea tables) or baized (for card or games tables).
• Mahogany - Mahogany is a dense, close grained red-coloured timber from the West Indies and Central America. It was first imported into Europe in the the early 18th century and its use continued through the 19th century. It was popular for furniture making because of its strength, the wide boards available, the distinctive grain on some boards, termed flame mahogany and the rich warm colour of the timber when it was polished.. The "flame" was produced where a limb grew out from the trunk of the tree, and this timber was usually sliced into veneers for feature panels on doors, backs and cornices.
  
  Some terms used to describe mahogany relate to the country from which it originally came, such as "Cuban" mahogany, "Honduras" mahogany etc. However unless the wood has been tested the names assigned are more a selling feature, rather than a true indication of the timber's origin.
• Breakfront - A design generally found in larger pieces of furniture, such as bookcases, wardrobes and some sideboards. The line of the front is interrupted by the middle section standing out from each end. In a reverse breakfront, the centre section is recessed behind each end. Breakfronted pieces are usually made in three sections the middle and the two wings which are held together by the cornice and pediment, and the plinth on which it stands. The sensible buyer should show caution before buying breakfront pieces, especially bookcases, which are highly desirable and expensive. Always check that the timber, colour, patination, backboards, decoration and thickness of the wood are same in each section.
• Pad Foot - In furniture design, a pad foot refers to a type of
  
  furniture foot that is shaped like a flattened ball or pad. It is a common
  
  design element in traditional furniture styles, particularly in English and
  
  American furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The pad foot is typically
  
  wider than it is tall, with a broad, flat surface that rests directly on the
  
  floor. It is often carved or turned with decorative details, such as fluting or
  
  ridges, and can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, or
  
  leather.
  
  
  Pad feet are used to support the legs of various types of
  
  furniture, such as chairs, tables, and cabinets. They are often used in
  
  combination with other types of feet, such as bun feet or bracket feet, to
  
  create a more complex and decorative furniture design. In terms of
  
  functionality, pad feet provide stability and support to furniture pieces, and
  
  can help distribute the weight of the piece evenly across the floor. In terms
  
  of design, they add a classic and traditional look to furniture designs, and
  
  are often used to create a sense of elegance and refinement.

• Frieze - An architectural term denoting the flat, shaped or convex horizontal surface of furniture, between the architrave and the cornice, usually found on a cabinet or bookcase, or on desks and tables where it may include drawers, the area between the top and the legs. In ceramics, the term refers to the banding, of usually a repeating pattern, on the rims of plates and vases.
• George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• tables, purpose or type - tea, fold over 121