Western Maryland, probably Frederick, 1795-1810
Mahogany with cherry, yellow pine, tulip poplar, sumac, purpleheart‚ and maple
Catalog no. 74
The influence of Baltimore neoclassical furniture traditions in the southern backcountry is evidenced by these two card tables. Catalog no. 73 The backcountry table on the left features a rayed pattern of veneers and inlays on the upper surface, oval inlays at the top of each leg, and ebonized feet. The same details are found on the Baltimore table to the right, which is attributed to cabinetmaker Levin S. Tarr.
In spite of these outward similarities, the large scale and structural details of the backcountry table differ considerably from coastal norms. Moreover, the warpage on the upper leaf reflects the maker's poor understanding of proper interior framing. Despite these differences, the existence of fashionable neoclassical furniture designs in the inland South counters popular stereotypes about the cultural backwardness of the region.