Card Table

William Hook

MEDIUMMahogany, birch, and white pine
DIMENSIONS73.5 × 92.4 × 45.4 cm (29 × 36 5/16 × 17 7/8 in.)
LOCATIONArt Institute of Chicago
COLLECTIONArts of the Americas
CULTURESalem
CREDIT LINEPurchased with funds provided by the Antiquarian Society through the Jessie Spalding Landon Fund

This beautiful card table embodies the elegant simplicity of early American Federal furniture. Its ingenious design allows it to transform from a demilune console to a functional playing surface, reflecting the social customs of its time.

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ABOUT THIS WORK

This elegant card table, crafted from rich mahogany, birch, and white pine, offers a glimpse into early 19th-century domestic life. Its design emphasizes both functionality and refined aesthetics, characteristic of Federal-era American furniture. The table's clean lines and subtle curves speak to a period taste for neoclassical simplicity, moving away from the more ornate styles of earlier centuries. When closed, it appears as a demilune console, a sophisticated furnishing for an entryway or against a wall. Its true purpose as a card table is revealed only when the hinged top is swiveled and opened, transforming it into a square playing surface. This clever design would have made it a prized possession, perfect for evening entertainment and social gatherings in a fashionable home.

LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

1

The rich, warm tones of the mahogany wood.

2

The subtle contrast between the mahogany and the lighter birch.

3

How the top swivels and unfolds to double its size.

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Audio Deep Dive

This beautiful card table embodies the elegant simplicity of early American Federal furniture. Its ingenious design allows it to transform from a demilune cons…

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THE ARTIST
William Hook 1829

William Hook, born in 1829, is associated with works like 'Alice' and 'A City Park' from the late 19th century.

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