Tea Table
1765–75
Medium
Mahogany, mahogany veneer, maple
Dimensions
27 1/8 x 35 x 23 in. (68.9 x 88.9 x 58.4 cm)
Classification
Tea table
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Emily Crane Chadbourne Gift, 1961
Accession Number
61.42
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Robert Harrold's *Tea Table* (1765–75) exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of colonial American furniture. Crafted from mahogany with mahogany veneer and maple, this elegant piece measures 27 1/8 x 35 x 23 inches, perfect for intimate social gatherings. Harrold, a skilled cabinetmaker, created it during a prosperous era in pre-Revolutionary America, when imported hardwoods like mahogany symbolized status and sophistication. Mahogany, sourced from the West Indies, was a luxury material prized for its rich reddish-brown hue, dura...