Recent Acquisitions: The Wardwell Card Table.

We received a phone call last year from Sue Campbell, who said that she had a table made by Jonathan Fisher that she would like to give us.--- if we wanted it.  Naturally, we were interested to see what she had.  Not knowing further what to expect, and naturally curious, we were knocked speechless at first sight by the  table that emerged from her station wagon. 

 

The table was made by Fisher and given as a wedding present to Campbell's ancestors Lucy Stetson and William Wardwell on the occasion of their marriage in the 1830's   It is a Hepplewhite games table, in  untouched original condition,  Of country design, but based on sophisticated forms, it is constructed of humble pine, with an exuberant paint decorated surface that imitates satinwood with inlay.  It is the 3rd example in our collection of Fisher's skill with faux wood surfaces, the others being a cabinet with doors grained by Parson Fisher to look like inlaid mahogany, and a wooden box with fanciful grained surface.  It is interesting to compare the Fisher table with another, urban made mahogany card table that we also own, which descended in the Hinckley family of Blue Hill.  The similarities of design are so similar that one can't help but wonder if Fisher was inspired by the other table, which he undoubtedly saw in the course of visits, and used it as a pattern for his design.  The tops are of identical shape and dimension.  Whatever the story, the table is one of the most exciting pieces in our collection, and we are grateful for the generous gift, which was made in memory of Lucy & William Wardwell, to whom Fisher gave the table 165 years ago.