Gate Leg Table
1710–30
Medium
Walnut and pine
Dimensions
Open: 73.3 × 143.5 × 135.5 cm (28 7/8 × 56 1/2 × 53 3/8 in.)
Classification
table
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
58111
Art Historical Context
This elegant Gate Leg Table, crafted between 1710 and 1730 exemplifies early 18th-century furniture from the Arts of the Americas at the Art Institute of Chicago Made of rich walnut with pine secondary wood, it measures 733 × 143.5 × 1355 cm when fully open, transforming from a compact console against the into a spacious dining surface swinging out its "gates"—paired drop leaves supported by hinged legs. This ingenious design was ideal for colonial households with limited space, allowing versatility in homes where rooms served multiple purposes. The use of walnut, a durable and beautifully gr...