The "Limner" Table

      On occasions, we get the honor of reproducing pieces of furniture from history. Enclosed are pictures of a table we just finished up replicating the famous table used in many drawings of Joseph Davis (1811-1865). Davis used this table within many of his portrait drawings. Between 1832 and 1838 Davis traveled in western Maine and eastern New Hampshire painting family portraits. Little is known of his life, but a majority of scholars believe that he may have been the "Pine Hill Joe" Davis of Newfield, Maine, who executed more than 160 watercolor portraits or family records. Davis was a “Limner”, one of the itinerant painters who traveled across New England. Below are some examples of Davis’s paintings using the Limner table. Davis earned a living painting anything available, from barns, mirror frames, signs and furniture. Portraits was a sideline which didn’t pay well at all…..only $1.50 per portrait.

     The Limner’s table and it’s imperfections of perspective, created an interesting geometrical challenge for furniture designer Floris van den Broecke. He wanted to replicate the table’s oddity while constructing a stable and functional piece of furniture. The table was then first made by Mary Little.

     Our client commissioned us to replicate the original table using the original engineering drawings and techniques.  We duplicated every detail exactly as originally done, right down to the joinery, turned knobs and custom brackets. Please notice the odd angles and leg placement within this piece. Our pictures show the table in our client’s home. A natural clear acrylic finish was applied, and described by the customer….”The slight sheen on the legs make them look like those of a woman wearing silk stockings, or a ballet dancer on point.” This is such an honor for us to be able to participate in the reproduction of such an exquisite

piece of American History.