Featured I'm trying to get any info at all on this French table

Made in France side table folding by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:59 PM

Hi all! I am new here and love the site! I found this folding side table at a yard sale today. It has no marks aside from made in France and a round piece on the larger hinges that looks like it says bf. beso - it's very hard to see or read though so that may be incorrect. Someone definitely messed with the inlay at the center, I'm hoping my husband can fix it. The top is inlaid, that side band looks brass, as do the findings (sorry I don't know what else to call them!) on the legs. It is three sided, with one side not staying up due to a broken hinge. It has not been cleaned at all, I didn't want to start messing with it before I find out what it may be and perhaps roughly the year it was made. Can anyone help? Thanks so very much!

Made in France side table folding by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:59 PM

Made in France side table folding by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:59 PM

Made in France side table by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:58 PM

Made in France side table folding by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:58 PM

Made in France side table folding by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:58 PM

Made in France side table folding by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:58 PM

Made in France side table folding by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:58 PM

 

Welcome, Rhondajean! You should be able to connect your Gallery pictures here by using the "camera" icon (Embed Gallery Media.)

 

One more ~

Made in France side table folding by Rhondajean posted Oct 28, 2017 at 6:58 PM

 

Thanks so much! That was MUCH easier . Although now I'm thinking I should have added them to the original post ~ would it have worked in edit mode?
Very kind of you to help ~ I really appreciate it!

Rhonda

 

Yes - use edit for your first post, then click on the icon.

 

Welcome!

 

Is that metal on the skirt? (Where is looks green like verdigris?)

Geez, that inlay looks like someone tried to change the color. That may be a function of the angle, though. What does it look like to you?

 

Hi Bakersgma,
Yes they did use a really dark colored piece of wood (about 1"X1") to repair something right in the center! It makes no sense to me, but who knows why they did it. That's the only real issue with the inlay overall. My husband is a master carpenter so I'm hoping he can 'fix' it to at least make the wood match. And yes, the skirt looks brass, with a little green in that spot and another, but it doesn't seem corroded or ruined. The pieces on the legs I'm not sure if they are brass or another metal. They're darker than the skirt but I thought they may just not have been cleaned as often. Thanks for the reply!

 

Could be they had no clue what that piece would do with a finish and/or over time.

 

One of those leg pieces (the one touching the floor) looks like the screw or nail is coming out, so maybe it won't be too hard to remove it to attempt cleaning it. I would think it would have matched the one further up (which looks much lighter in color.)

Verdigris is often the result of moisture lingering on a metal item which is made of an alloy including significant copper. I'm sure someone will be along with suggestions to remedy that.

 

Could the metal elements be worn out ormolu?

a gold-colored alloy of copper, zinc, and sometimes tin, cast into desired shapes and often gilded, used especially in the 18th century for decorating furniture and making ornaments.? Google Dictionary

It's pretty - Hi, welcome Rhondajean!

 

Thanks! I wonder if it could be that old? I just love it no matter what and thanks for the greeting and info!

 

The bottom pieces do look darker to me as well. Much blacker than the top, which I figured was brass but who knows now lol. The tiny nail actually made me think of a small rounded tack, and that's an excellent idea as far as cleaning it! The plan was to tighten all of it up but taking it apart first makes more sense now that you mentioned it. Obviously I don't know much about antique or vintage furniture, but I plan on having fun learning!

 

I'm not a furniture person in the strictest sense of the term, so I'd wait for someone like @verybrad to weigh on on an age estimate.

 

Hard to tell age on something like this since made for a lot of years. Based on the leaf support hardware and general form/condition, I would say 30s or later. My gut says 50s or so but could give the benefit of doubt to a couple decades earlier.

 

That's great, thanks for the info. Even a broadish timeline like that helps me and I really appreciate your response. I've got to replace the hardware under one of the sides, and I'd like too keep it similar to what's there so these dates at least give me somewhere to start. I'm not even sure if that part is also called a hinge or perhaps there's a different term?
Thanks again!
Rhonda

 

Thanks yet again! Very kind of you to tag someone for me!

 

True I never even considered that! Thanks!
Rhonda