Antique Dressers: Dumb Waiters
DRESSERS: DUMB WAITERS
About 1750-1830
Straightforward mahogany dumb waiter, ,lbout 1760.
Acontemporary term for an early form of supper trolley for use when servants were not in attendance. Designed to stand within easy reach of the table to hold condiments, plates and other dining accessories.
A central turned column on a tripod (or occasionally four-legged) base, with feet mounted on castors and two or three open circular shelves of graduating size with moulded rims. Rare examples have four tiers.
In mid-18thC pieces the tripod base is similar to tripod tables (see p.175), but with castors. Cabriole legs, pad feet and central column formed as vase-shaped baluster. Occasionally claw-and-ball feet. Knees, feet (or entire leg) and central column sometimes carved with foliate decoration.
Regency columns straight-edged, slightly tapering, with moulded collars at widely spaced intervals.
Post-1790, reeded and splayed legs on box castors. ‘Kneed’ legs indicate a post-1810 date. Castors can be of lion’s paw or claw feet form.
In best pieces turnings between trays are of diminishing diameter.
Rims to trays usually formed as simple mouldings but occasionally scalloped or carved with leaf or other patterns. Sometimes a fret-carved gallery, on early examples of Gothic or Chinese design. Sometimes shallow recesses turned in surface to prevent dishes from sliding about.
Variations include:
Flat trays with hinged, folding flaps, the flaps supported by a swivelling bar.
Trays of equal diameter supported on thin brass columns fixed around the edge rather than the central column.
A relatively complex Sheraton-style with drawers below, plate racks on shelves, and so on.
Base formed as wine cooler with column rising from centre.
Nearly always mahogany; just occasionally rosewood during Regency.
Trays turned on a lathe, the best quality from one piece of timber, though occasionally two, fixed together with tongue-and-groove joints. Can be very thin.
Top tray usually supported on column with wooden flange although sometimes the top section of the column projects right through and ends in a finial.
Until 1790 castors attached to separate block with grain running in opposite direction.
Column made in sections which screw together and hold the intervening trays in place.
Carving on some pieces around the rims and on the base. Not uncommon for carving to be added at a later date to enhance value. Original carving will stand proud of the surface; later additions flush with it.
VALUES
Yet another item invariably priced in four figures nowadays (assuming it is right). Be very suspicious if less.
CONVERSIONS
Not very popular items in the past; many converted to more valuable and popular tripod tables (usually given away by filling of the central hole). More collectable today though.
Check that borders of trays and turnings of column match exactly; if not, suspect a marriage. Check also that all the trays are level and that none have warped.
Tags: antique dressers, ball feet, cabriole, cabriole legs, condiments, dining, drawer, dresser, DRESSERS, dumb waiter, dumb waiters, mahogany, mouldings, pattern, paw, recesses, Regency, surface, tongue and groove, tongue and groove joints, tripod base, variation, WAITERS