Skip to main content

Table: M.10-1977

An image of Table

Terms of use

These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.

Download this image

Creative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Folding card table of walnut with splayed legs and quatrefoil stretcher, carved, gilt, and inlaid in the Gothic style. Top of figured walnut with marquetry borders which turns and opens to reveal a red baize surface bordered by tooled leather.

Notes

History note: Nigel B. Mendes da Costa, Peaslake, Surrey, from whom purchased by the Friends of the Fitzwilliam.

Legal notes

Given by the Friends of the Fitzwilliam.

Measurements and weight

Height: 74.5 cm
Length: 91 cm
Width: 46 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1977) by The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum

Dating

Victorian
Circa 1865 - Circa 1870

Note

Perhaps by J. B. Crace

The form of this card table was influenced by the furniture designs of the Gothic Revival architect A.W.N. Pugin (1812-1852). A fervent Catholic, Pugin believed that the Age of Faith could be revived by a return to the Gothic style of the fourteenth century. He designed furniture, metalwork, stained glass, tiles, textiles and wallpapers with archaeological accuracy, insisting on the honest use of materials and undisguised construction. From 1844, Pugin designed the interiors for the new Houses of Parliament. These were executed by the firm of Crace & Son, for whom Pugin also designed ‘a sensible style of furniture of good oak.’ Some of the more ornate pieces used veneer, however, of which Pugin disapproved as being contrary to ‘true principles.’ A more elaborately decorated table of the same type as this one, made in 1867, is in The Higgins Bedford.

School or Style

Gothic Revival

Materials used in production

Gilt
Walnut
Leather

Techniques used in production

Inlay
Marquetry
Gilding
Carving

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.10-1977
Primary reference Number: 95797
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 17 December 2024 Last processed: Tuesday 13 May 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Table" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/95797 Accessed: 2025-07-17 11:30:16

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/95797 |title=Table |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-07-17 11:30:16|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-95797

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/portfolio/F25982D9_7CB9_CFFF_028E_8BBFC531887C/603/841/large_M_10_1977.jpg"
        alt="Table"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Table</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>
    

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...