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Article: Rhode Island gateleg tables.
- Article from:
- The Magazine Antiques
- Article date:
- May 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Brant Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Introduced to America during the last quarter of the seventeenth century, gateleg tables offered portability that was ideal for the small rooms typical of many colonial houses. Purely baroque in form, gateleg tables consistently have oval tops and were called "oval tables" in contemporary wills and inventories. The oval shape provided a relaxed and democratic dining experience.
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The origin of the gateleg table is difficult to pinpoint. Robert F. Trent has suggested that the form originated in France at the Chateau de Versailles in the 1660s as a result of cramped living accommodations in the palace. (1) ...