A George II mahogany triple-fold harlequin games table, attributed to Thomas Potter, circa 1735,
The harlequin games table come in for some restoration, the table dating from around 1735, unfortunately the tops were twisted from age and timber movement, this was bad enough that it would effect the black gammon board /chest board when opened. This would need to be corrected during the restoration process along with some veneer repairs to the tops. The tops would need to have the veneer carefully steamed off and pressed flat for later on theses would be put back on. This was done for me to expose the base wood to correct the twisted timbers .
The tops were taken apart with the mouldings removed and I was left with the white pine used in the construction of the tops . The tops them had groves cut through them both sides to allow me to lay flat and then fill with timber . Doing this I found that it takes out the tension of the wood , being cramped flat and then filled with timber and left over night . This keeps the original Timber in the job with out having to replace it for new wood and keeping the original timbers . Was surprised to find white pine used and not oak as often found in card table construction. Unfortunately at some point in the past the top had a large patch cut in to the veneer, this would mean finding some period timber to replace it with.
I found a 18th century top from a old dining table leaf that I could use to replace the top veneer , but unfortunately I would need to reduce the thickness down by hand , cutting through the top to create a thin peace of timber I could then flatten it and veneer it in place , this was done over size and would be finished in place sanding and finishing the mouldings later on
Once this was done and levelled down by hand and the edge remoulded,the top was sanded ready to be French polished, around the carcass and draw section needed a few veneer repairs carried out from veneer chips and shrinkage issues. Now I could clean the table ready to be French polished, this got done over a period of time slowing it to dry before cutting back and refinishing it . Once the table was waxed and finished I just needed to lay a green Basie to card table section . This then completed the restoration of the harlequin games table . A interesting peace that could be used as a small desk as well .
Attributed to Thomas Potter, the rounded triple folding rectangular top enclosing a tea-table, backgammon and chessboard with a concealed frame fitting into the ivory escutcheons and a baize lined table with four guinea-wells, a brass button release to either side revealing a rising cartonnier with pigeon holes, drawers and fitted book-rest, the backgammon frame is also concealed within. All on tapered legs terminating in pad feet with enclosed brass skirted castors. The inner oak carcass has its four original springs which convey the till to its maximum height without effort. Folded away it returns to a elegant table with its base moulding conforming to that of the folding leaves, a true tour de force. Thomas potter: Master Cabinetmaker of Holborn, was known to have taken a Michael Bonsfield on as apprentice in 1731 and his son Philip Potter in 1746. Potter was also known to work with master cabinet maker John Kelsey of Westminster, between them they supplied fine furniture to Sir Richard Colt Hoare of Barn Elms, Richmond as well as Sir Justinian Isham the 5th Baronet of Lamport at Lamport Hall, Northamptonshire where he paid Potter £19 in 1736 for a communal table for Lamport Church shortly before his death in March 1736/37 Potter is known to have supplied other pieces of furniture for Sir Justinian Isham around this time as extensive additions to Lamports main building was finished and being furnished, research is still ongoing with the local archives office to verify if this is one of those pieces as the table came from a short distance away from Lamport. [From previous tables sold attributed to potter this specimen is of the closest seen in regards to design, build and configuration etc. The 1730s trade-sheet of the High Holborn cabinet-maker Thomas Potter shows the table (of same design) opened to reveal its raised ‘cartonnier’ with near identical drawer configuration and another with its inlaid games-boards which is with similar foldable frame, (see C. Gilbert and T. Murdoch, John Channon and brass-inlaid furniture 1730-1760, London, 1993, p.19). (C. Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, Leeds, vol. III, 1998, No.828). Known to have worked and shared designs with John Channon in the centrepiece of Potter’s trade-sheet was a boulle-enriched medal-cabinet, that in turn relates to a cabinet in the Victoria & Albert Museum; and to the Museum’s finely engraved bookcases at Powderham Castle, Devon, which bear the date 1740 and signature of the cabinet-maker John Channon (d. 1779), Channon had established premises in St. Martin’s Lane in 1737 and it is believed in 1753/54 Chippendale set up in the next premises along. Amongst other very closely related tables is one illustrated P. Thornton and D. Fitz-Gerald, ‘Abraham Roentgen ‘Englische Kabinettmacher’ and some further reflections on the work of John Channon’, Victoria & Albert Museum Bulletin, October 1966, pp. 137-147 and fig. 8. Abraham Roentgen from Neuweid formed part of the immigrant Moravian community, working in London in the early 1730s; and, like Channon, appear to have specialised in the manufacture of such ingenious furniture although designs and the trade card show us that this was likely to be the invention of Potters.
Above is Thomas potter business card held by the V&A museum that shows his design fit the harlequin table, also four other harlequin tables attributed to potters designs but were slightly earlier than the four top one I restored and most likely built in the Far East
Daniel Chapman antique furniture conservation and restoration 