How To Build a Federal Card Table
String inlay frames the game
Synopsis: Michael Dunbar says that Americans were fascinated with card playing during the Federal Period. A special piece of furniture – the round card table with one hinged leaf that closed book fashion – was created for this purpose. Dunbar says the table is not a particularly complex project, in spite of the inlaid stringing. The skirt is made with bricklaid stock, and the left leg swings, gate-style, when the table is opened. Detailed project plans accompany the step-by-step directions on building and inlaying the table. A side article by David Ray Pine explains shop-made inlay.
At no other time in our history were Americans more fascinated with card playing than during the Federal period. So much time was devoted to cards that a special piece of furniture—the round card table with one hinged leaf that closed book-fashion—was created for just this purpose.
Often called demi-lunes, these tables were made…
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