The perfect period dining table

[JoceAndChris]

We bought these Sheraton Revival chairs a couple of years back, and since then I've been looking for a matching dining table.

http://dartington-antiques.co.uk/mag.asp?ID=16

As you can see the dining table we have currently is completely wrong. The perfect one would be extending to up to 230cm, but without its leaves in would be around 110cm long, would have tapering square legs ending in spade feet, some box stringing, some pretty inlay, and would be Edwardian. No legs in awkward places. I'm posting this just in case anyone is sitting at one they want rid of, or has seen one - they seem incredibly rare. Did they all go on the fire in the 50s?

We're thinking of going to Salisbury to look at this one but it's a little chunky and expensive:

http://www.hingstons-antiques.co.uk/products/antique_dining_tables/dining_tables_detail/Edwardian,inlaid,mahogany,extending,dining,table.html

 

[Penners]

When I first read your post, I thought you said you were going to Sainsburys to look at a table! :?

Our wonderful dining table, left to me by my grandfather, is almost identical to the one shown on that Hingstons web page, except that the ends are rounded-off square, rather than semicircular. The legs, the stringing and all other details are virtually identical. It has three leaves, which can extend it to a comfortable 14-seater (or could if our dining room was big enough!).

I don't tell you this because I want to get rid of the table - just to make you jealous, I suppose!! :wink:

 

[kreyszig]

Have you tried local (or not so local) auctions? I've picked up some real bargains.
Nothing has been in perfect order but with a budget over £2k I would have thought you could get a table in one piece for a song and get it professionally restored.

 

[JoceAndChris]

There are masses of nice antique tables under that price kreyzig, yes. But price isn't really the issue, the issue is that Mr P seems to be sitting at one of only a very small number of extending Sheraton Revival dining tables, with pretty stringing grr, extra leaves grr grr grr, tapering legs with spade feet , and as he won't part with it, and Sainsbury's haven't yet branched out into Sheraton Rev furniture, we've got a 6 hour round trip on Saturday and will be over £2000 poorer!!! Mr P :mrgreen: !

 

[LadyArowana]

I expect you have checked all the things that show up online already. I liked the fact that the leaves stored inside this one. Ours does that, and it's useful not having to have the leaves put away somewhere else. http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/303465/wonderful-inlaid-mahogany-extending-dining-table-c1890/

 

[plasticpigeon]

Has anyone got a vintage Gibson L5 guitar just hanging around that I could buy?

 

[kreyszig]

I'm sure I have one hanging around...I think I left it in the e-type

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol:

This is the eternal problem with nice things, other people think they're nice too!

Funny you picked that one LadyA - that's choice 2! The one in Salisbury packs up slightly smaller with no leaves in, which I think will suit the room more. It isn't really a big enough dining room to comfortably seat 8/10, it can be squeezed to do that when necessary but for most of the year I need a four seater. Thanks for looking xxx

 

[Penners]

Mr P :mrgreen: !

Sorry, my dear, but it really is a very lovely table!

Oops! I've done it again, haven't I?!

 

[Penners]

Has anyone got a vintage Gibson L5 guitar just hanging around that I could buy?

I'm sure I've got one stuffed in a cupboard somewhere - sunburst finish with Alnico bar magnet pickups. I can't remember where I put it but it's probably with my cherry-red Les Paul, my Fender Strat, my Martin N-20 and my John Alvey Turner National Duolian.

I imagine they'll turn up one day.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hmm, wonder if Mr P would notice if I nipped over with my plasticcy heap of junk dining table and did a straight swap? Someone divert him with chocolate cake and youthful images of Gina Lollobrigida whilst I try!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Joce, if you are prepared to travel to Sainsburys--SORRY Salisbury!!

Would you consider, on another occasion perhaps, a trip to The Swan at Tetsworth. Have a look at their website. Another option, in the Eastern Regions is Mangers Auction Rooms nr Sudbury, Suffolk, and The Swan's sister antiques centre at Sicklesmere Suffolk, both run by Tom Keene. Their stock is excellent. Ridiculously ( :wink: :wink: ) my mind is focused on another pressing matter, now slowly drawing to a successful conclusion, so I do not have the websites to hand--suggest you google The Swan at Tetsworth which should have a link to the Sicklesmere centre.

Good Luck!!!!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Interesting links there Joss thanks! Now I've seen a load of other stuff I like...

But no Sheraton Revival dining tables. I would, happily, spend weekends going to antiques centres up and down the land as not everything gets listed online (though antiques atlas and selling antiques are very comprehensive). But I'm not a confident driver, which means I'm rather dependent on Chris for motorway journeys, and he generally has other plans for the weekends than antique browsing!

 

[Penners]

Someone divert him with chocolate cake and youthful images of Gina Lollobrigida whilst I try!

With the real Joce around, who needs photos of Gina Lollobrigida?

However, at my age chocolate cake trumps you both! :wink:

 

[plasticpigeon]

I know I'm drifting here, but here is my dream guitar, almost exactly what Penners has described (in fact I would prefer sunburst). It is from 1955. A terrible time for architecture and not a great time for furniture design, unless you are a fan of plastic melamine and the rather plain Scandinavian style, but a wonderful time for guitars!!!! There seems to be a high point in the design and construction of most items which is probably related to the maturity of design, rather than to any particular point in history. I wonder if the design and manufacture of any contemporary item is at its pinnacle.

 

[Penners]

I'm more of an acoustic man actually. Here's Pete Townshend playing my guitar (well, the same model anyway!).

http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/guitar/harmony6.html