Vintage Furniture Tips -- Decrease Leaf Desk In Order To Whatnots
Here's a reference guide of some popular items you might have come across but were unsure of what they actually were.
Drop leaf table
It is a two-flap table with sides that can be extended with under-stretchers.
Dumb waiter
Designed to hold plates, desserts and/or cutlery, this type of furniture has a central shaft and circular trays. Older versions featured detachable circular trays. Dumb waiters were used in the salon or dining room for serving guests.
Gate-leg Table
A two-flap table with a two hinged legs that when extended raise the sides.
Highboy
Often called a chest-on-stand, a high boy is a chest-of-drawers on a stand. They were found in the bedroom and designed for disassembly.
Ladder-back chair
It is a chair with a series of horizontal back-rails.
Lowboy
It is a small dressing table.
Nesting tables
It is a series of three or four tables that fit one beneath the other.
Pedestal desk
It is a flat desk often with a leather top that stands on two banks of drawers. It is finished on the front so that it can be displayed in an office or library.
Pembroke Table
It is a small two-flap table that can be used as a side table. The centre section is wider than the two fold down sides.
Secretary
It is a writing table with a bookcase on top and has a fall front that lets down to provide a writing surface. The interior has slots and small drawers for organization. It often has drawers below.
Slat back chair
It is a type of chair with vertical slats across the back.
Tallboy
Often called a chest-on-chest, a tall boy is simply two tall chests-of-drawers, one smaller chest on top of the other slightly larger chest.
Teapoy
It is a small piece of furniture designed to hold tea. It was used to serve in the salon or dining room. Tea was a valuable commodity so it warranted special presentation.
Whatnot
It is a small mobile piece of furniture with open shelves, often made of mahogany. It could be moved around easily for multiple purposes to hold bric-a-brac.
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A lifelong lover of all things old, Martin was born in Toronto, Ontario and spent time as a child in Malaysia. Martin discovered to revive furnishings whenever he or she was a teen, did from an auction home and owned an antique look for 10 years. Martin is an appraisals specialist, conducts estate sales and enjoys sharing his vast knowledge through the courses his teaches and personal appearances. He has written for newspapers, magazines and over 40 of his articles on antiques have been reprinted in publications around the world. He has located Let's Talk Collectibles, an online radio plan on The VoiceAmerica Funnel and he offers made an appearance being an collectibles expert on the number of television programs. Items from his shop have been featured in internationally recognized antiques expert Judith Miller's Price Guide books. Age seven was a pivotal year for Martin. He was diagnosed with dyslexia, removed from the public school system and home schooled until he was accepted into one of Canada's foremost universities. In that same year, Martin joined his parents in attending the legendary Woodstock concert. Martin product recalls that he happens to be interested in things from the previous, so it's not surprising he managed to graduate in the College of Toronto having a diploma in The archaeology of gortyn. His personal areas of interest are Asian art, European furniture and the Arts & Crafts movement. Martin is an aficionado of early jazz music and is a skillful gardener. A proud member of the Clan Gordon, Martin is always eager to don this kilt. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Andrea. |
A More In-Depth Look at the Peelle Dumbwaiter at the WL Davis Centre of Learning
Antique Dumb Waiter
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Frequently Asked Questions...
Anybody know the name for antique dumb waiter of a black man holding a tray?
my gransdmother had two wooden and painted stands, about 3 foot high of black men holding a brass tray which was used for letters.
I'm trying to track one, or a pair down for my mum as she was always promised the pair from my grandmother but these got given away to somebody else.
The trouble I'm having is I can't find any trace of them on the net!
Are they called dumb waiters (as we knew them) or do they have some other name?
Any help would be much appreciated 
Answer:
To answer Your Question
A dumb Waiter is like an mechanical Elevator built into 2 Story houses, instead of having someone walk up and down stairs with a try or bundle of wood. it was shaft built into the house with an opening door that sometimes went to the Basement 1st and 2nd floors en witch you could put wood for fireplaces or food trays. they where built into many houses up to the 1920's. They where usually about 20 inch square platforms.
