Pier table

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Pier table

Entry/Object ID

1950.1.58

Description

Pier table of mahogany and bird-eye maple veneer with a gray marble top with dark-gray veining. The marble top is framed with wood moldings that are glued and nailed to the top surfaces of the rails and legs. A medial support rail connects the front and rear rails and provides additional support for the top. The front and side rails have rectangular birds-eye maple panels outlined with black and white stringing and mahogany cross banding. The rear rail is undecorated. The tapered legs also have inlaid maple panels; the brass foot sockets and casters are original.

Made/Created

Date made

1800 - 1807

Dimensions

Height

30-1/4 in

Width

53-3/8 in

Depth

27-3/4 in

Material

mahogany, birch, pine, mahogany and bird's-eye maple veneer, Italian marble

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Object Label

Label

Pier Table, 1800-1807 Boston, John and Thomas Seymour mahogany, mahogany, birds-eye maple, and other veneers; birch and pine; Italian marble John S. Locke Collection, gift of the estate of Almira Locke McArthur

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

In his Cabinet Dictionary (1803), Thomas Sheraton defined a pier as the "part of a wall which is between the windows." Pier tables were intended for display, much like sideboards, and were located in formal rooms used for entertaining. It was customary to hang a looking glass above a pier table. This table probably belonged originally to Jonathan and Hannah Scamman Tucker of Saco, who married in 1803 and began building a large brick house in town the following year. While we have no specific documentation of the Tucker's purchase of this piece, we do know that they, like other prominent Saco families, acquired fashionable furnishings from both local and Boston craftsmen and retailers. The marble top may have been purchased locally. Imported Italian marble was available in both Boston and Portland, where stonecutter and sculptor Bartlett Adams advertised in 1800 that he was selling "a few Italian marble table slabs." Since marble is impervious to alcohol, it makes an excellent serving surface.