The tripod table was perhaps the most important achievement of Thomas
Chippendale as innovator, for it was his exclusive creation. The tripod
table in our collection was made approximately between 1760 and 1765. The
quality of the carving is so excellent, the sense of style so marked,
that, if not by Chippendale himself, the table is surely the work of a
cabinet maker who closely rivaled the famous master. Tripod tables are
commonly referred to in documents of the period as “snap tables.” The top
is hinged so that it can be tilted back to save space. When in use it is
held in place by a sliding catch, which snaps sharply into position when
the top is let down.
[Card Table, Mahogany English or American, about 1750-1775]