Circa 1890 Aesthetic parlor center or library TABLE,
- solid prima vera (mahogany),
- Merklen Bros, NYC,
- 1) open double spiral canted legs (machine patent),
- 2) “Pat Apr 24 88”, cast brass lions head holding wood ball feet (design patent),
- 3) “Pat Sep 5 89”, cast brass rocaille scroll shelf brackets (design patent),
- 4) spiral rope molding on skirt (machine patent)(different patent than leg spiral),
- four patent productions on this particular example (see discussion & patent numbers below),
- ink numbered “766” under top.
- A top example of this form in both execution, proportion and condition.
- dis-assembled for FedEx shipping if desired.
29” tall, 30” square.
Condition – solid, excellent restored original finish, cleaned original surface on castings. 2226
Merklen Brothers, NYC (1881-1897). Brothers- Martin, Benjamin and Valentin with production, spiral and design patents recorded in their names.
- The Merklens also cooperated with CS (Moses Y) Ransom and Co, Cleveland, OH (early 1880s-1897). They most likely connected via Ransom's NYC office and with Ransom’s similar patents popular at the time.
- 1) Leg - This interlocking leg spiral machine patent by Moses Y Ransom, Sept 15, 1885, US326329A (fig 2).
- 2) Feet - This lion head with teeth held wood ball foot is marked “Pat Apr 24 88”, patented and assigned to Merklen, Emile Garet (Merklen factory sculptor) design patent Apr 24, 1888, USD18266S.
- 3) Bracket - This shelf bracket is marked “Pat Sep 5 89”, design patent by Martin Merklen on Mar 9, 1889, USD19296S.
- 4) Skirt - This apron molding was produced using machine patent by Moses Y Ransom on Oct 28, 1884, US307332A.
- Merklen Brothers held several patents for turning machines to make spiral reeding and turnings, This table is produced with two different spiral machine patents.
- Castings were done in the Merklen company by a full time sculptor with typical interesting motif of dragons, lion heads, bat wings. There is a link to the only known photo of the Merklen sculptor, Emil Garet, at work on his commission of the United States Capitol building, (per my conversation with Paul Tucker, author of Antiques, May 05 article)
- Original Merklen ads state that items could be purchased in Cherry, Oak, Mahogany and Prima Vera, each was progressively higher priced with Prima Vera seeming to be at the top and is a lighter color, finer and denser grade of mahogany.- This table wood is Prima Vera as the one shown on pg 120 in the Antiques article seems to be. (personal observations)- These are tables often mistakenly attributed to George Hunzinger Company which did make many innovative furniture forms.
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- Shipping - dis-assembled
- check shipping tab for FedEx Ground for USA continental. Packaged next day. 3-5 day shipping time.
- contact me for confirmation or additional options.
- Local pickup available.
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- Selection of items from local estates.
- I am located on the Alabama/Florida state line (near Pensacola in Northwest Florida). You may arrange for personal pickup. I am 250 miles from/between Atlanta, GA and New Orleans, LA, 180 miles south of Birmingham, AL.
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