Feet on antique furniture come in a variety of styles. There’s the bun, the spoon, the arrow, the pad, the block, the trestle, the onion, the bracket, the ball, the claw and, most beautifully, the ball and claw. Three types are seen at New Bellevue House. A repro Chippendale knuckle chair, c 1830, has ball and claw front legs. In the dining room, a tall cabinet, English c 1800, features buns, a style dating from the 1600s, and the desk in the study, Scotland c 1810, is supported by trestle feet. Though I know something about antiques, I learnt a surprising new fact at The Met yesterday.
© 2024 John Oliver
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