Webberley Antiques has dated this Georgian Yew Wine Table to the 18th Century.
A lovely vernacular piece which would have been used in a rural domestic setting as a supper table, tea or wine table. The tilt top allowed the table to be stored neatly when not in use.
Yew trees are evergreen and were often planted next to Christian churches because they represent eternal life and resurrection. Pagans also planted yew trees in their most sacred places and early Christian churches were frequently built on these sites with the early yew trees retained.
Yews are extremely slow growing and have unusual healing capacity which enables the trees to recover from storm and lightning damage. There are yew trees in the UK known to be more than 3,000 years old and in Europe some are believed to be as old as 9,000 years.
The remarkable grain and beautiful colours of yew, its density, durability and weight made it a treasured timber for the early joiners and cabinet makers but yew wood was hard to obtain because yew trees were rarely cut down. Small branches were used - steamed and bent to make hoops and rails for the best quality Windsor chairs or sliced into veneers to add beautiful veneers for crossbandings and panels to oak and mahogany furniture but it is less often seen in the solid as here - the grain is beautiful and the colour has developed particularly well.
This table is approaching its three hundredth birthday and has a couple of butterfly fixings added beneath to keep the top boards from spreading, and two areas that are patched.
One is a small diamond shaped patch which is difficult to see and appears to have been put in at the time of making to cover a knot hole. The second is a square patch which is full width and full depth and may also be part of the original construction but has become visible now with the mellowing of the finish and development of the natural colours of the yew.
The top with its original brass clasp is set on a well shaped ring turned column on splayed feet – all again in solid yew and with a lovely colour throughout.
Very sturdy and usable, with some patches and restorations but in overall excellent order and with a stunning colour and patina.
Dimensions are:
27.5 inches diameter, 26.75 inches high and 41 inches high when top is tilted.
Webberley Antiques has dated this Georgian Yew Wine Table to the 18th Century.
Specialists in 18th century and earlier furniture for more than 45 years
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Webberley Antiques Profile Page
Charming Georgian Yew Wood Wine Table C. 1750
