Extendable Table (6 Meters). Mahogany Wood, Metal, Leather, Etc. England, Circa 1930.

Extendable table (6 meters). Mahogany wood, metal, leather, etc. England, circa 1930.
Rectangular mahogany table carved with rectangles of another material in green (leather) edged in gold on the top, which has eight legs ending in casters and a "worm screw" system under the top that allows it to extend up to six meters thanks to a manually operated crank attached to one of the shorter sides of the piece. Claws are very common in 18th-century English examples (a type known as "claw and ball" with a cabriole leg, a form that, although more traditionally French, quickly spread throughout Europe). The leading theory among experts is that it is a motif derived from Chinese art (a dragon claw grasping a pearl or similar object) and that it reached the West through the trade in porcelain, silk, etc., first appearing in English silverware and, from there, spreading to other arts. The transformation of the dragon claw into a lion's paw is attributed to English cabinetmakers, this animal symbolizing English authority. Thus, the "ball and claw" was popular in England between approximately 1710 and 1750 (it later revived when past styles became fashionable again), with variations in shapes and lines (shape of the claw, details of the nails and "fingers", proportion between the sphere and the tip, etc.). The decoration present towards the waist of the piece of furniture and on the edge of the upper top, in slight relief and leaving the wood in its color, has an architectural and vegetal theme and shows an influence of ancient classical models (Greek and Roman) both in its motifs and in the composition (symmetry on the sides of the piece of furniture, harmony, etc.). As for the presence of the fabric covering on the top, this is a more common element in tables intended for conferences, offices or games than in dining tables (which usually have a wooden top), although this detail does not exclude its function. Also noteworthy is the preservation of the casters on the legs, an element that removed or lost with use and time.
Dimensions: 428x160x86 cm. Extension 700x160x86 cm Height to the ball 75 cm