Illustrated FURNITURE Glossary
Gateleg table
A drop-leaf table with oval or rounded ends.
The leaves are supported by single or double wing legs or gates.
Introduced in the mid-17th-century Jacobean furniture. usually associated with William and Mary style; popular in Colonial America.Gateleg tables were introduced in America in the 17th century. In general, thick turnings on thick legs are an indication of early tables. Such tables were practical in small houses because they could be folded up to save space.
New England examples are usually of maple and are more delicate than those made in Pennsylvania or New York.
Delicate proportions may be the sign of a turn-of-the-century reproduction.
Swing leg table: If stretchers are lacking, the table is known as a "swing leg" table.
Examples:
- Illustration above: William and Mary - Fairmount Park Woodford House, Philadelphia
- William and Mary gate-leg tables
- Swing leg table: American Antique Furniture, Orchard Park, NY