Edenton, North Carolina Tilt-Top Tea Table
late 18th century, mahogany with walnut standard, flat tilt top with dovetailed box form cage, ring and baluster turned standard, cabriole leg with raised pad foot, with likely original clasp, battens, and early screws.
27.5 x 30 x 29.75 in.


Documented by Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, S-15135 November 13, 1990. The table further documented and discussed in Thomas R.J. Newbern and James R. Melchor's work, "Edenton Furniture and Culture," page 38, figure 37.
Formerly in the estate of C.M.and Celia Forehand of the Rose-Bower House, Murfreesboro, North Carolina. Originally from the Rocky Hock community near Edenton in Chowan County, the couple moved to Murfreesboro after obtaining a large farm in the area known as Princeton. The table was purchased at the estate sale of Mrs. C.M (Celia) Forehand on April 2, 1987. Cecil M. Forehand (1888-1967) descended from a prominent Chowan County family whose presence in the area is documented as early as the first half of the 18th century. His father, John Martin Forehand (1847-1921) was the fourth owner of Bandon Plantation, where he raised his family and is buried there alongside his wife. (In 1944, Bandon Plantation was sold to John and his famed author wife, Inglis Fletcher). The great great grandfather of C.M. Forehand was Jarvis Forehand (1745-1830) who was born in Pasquotank County and listed in the "NC Early Census Index" as living in the county in 1769. Jarvis is also listed in the NC Historical Genealogical Register as enlisting in 1781 with Hall's Co. He died in 1830 in Chowan County. The Forehand family sustained a permanent and prosperous presence in the Chowan area, and it is likely that the tea table held provenance in the family until sold in 1987 upon the death of Mrs. C.M. Forehand.

One leg repaired at joint to standard and with crack to its knee; minor mars and burns to top.