Tilt-top Tea Table
Unknown Artist
1760–80
Medium
Mahogany
Dimensions
H. 27 x Diam. 24 in. (68.6 x 61.0 cm)
Classification
Tilt-top tea table
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of E. Nelson Asiel, 2013
Accession Number
2013.957.3
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this Tilt-top Tea Table (1760–80) exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of colonial America. Crafted from rich mahogany—a premium imported wood prized for its durability and lustrous grain—the table stands at 27 inches high with a 24-inch diameter top, making it perfectly suited for intimate social gatherings. Its ingenious tilt-top mechanism allows the circular surface to pivot and fold vertically against the tripod base, conserving space in compact 18th-century homes while enabling easy serving and storage. Dating to the mid-to...