Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/1072

 101^8 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA AllCHITECTURE. to any moderate lengtli, from seven to nine feet, without requirinj^ any additional Icgi for their support. Thus, a table may be made nine feet long by any width, say four feet, supported by four legs ; and this length may be reduced in one minute, so as to form a table only two feet by four feet. The fork fasteners, by which the top flaps arc fastened to each other, are placed at a distance from the edge, so as to be completely concealed, which adds to the strength of the table, and yet does not disfigure its appear- ance. These tables were invented in the manufactory of Mr. Dalziel. Figs. 1884 and 1885 are tables also invented at Mr. Dalziel's. They may be placed together so as to form one square table, made fast by thumb-screws ; or they may be taken apart, and placed against the sides of the room. Fig. 1886 shows the under side of fig. 1885, in which a a indicate the situation of the two corner legs, and h b that of the two inner legs. It will be observed, that the two latter are so far within the edge of the top as not to come in the way of the feet of guests, and that the corner feet, such as a a, however near the edge, never offer any obstruction to the feet. Mr. Dalziel's dining tables 1 886 ar" generally allowed to be of the very best kind manufac- 1 in London. It is a great advantage to be able to draw out a table to the length of thirteen or fourteen feet, and to support the whole securely on no more than four legs. The advantage is, that such a table may be used where the floor is not perfectly level, as well as on one which is so ; and this cannot be done so well with tables having six or more feet. Tiiis desirable result is obtained by compound slides, which, when drawn out to their full extent, form, in effect, a series of joists on which the flaps composing the top of the table rest. These tables are sent by Mr. Dalziel to all parts of the world. Fig. 1888 is the view of a semicircular dining-table ; and fig. 1887 is a plan of the top. It is chiefly ased by gentlemen after the ladies have retired to the drawingroom. This table is then placed in front of the fire, with its convex side out- wards, and the guests sit round that side, with their feet to the fire. It has a triangular frame which works on a centre ; the broad end of the triangle sliding in a groove on rollers, so as to admit of the decanters being moved from side to side with case. There is an open space between the decanters and the screen, which forms two sides of the triangle, and protects the decanters from the fire, in order that the wine may be kept cool. There are horseshoe tables for the same purpose, of a simpler description, but without the moving bottle-stand, about eighteen inches broad, and not more than half an inch thick ; the legs are slender and tapering, in order, not only to give an elegant appearance, but to render the tables light, and easily moved further from, or nearer to, the fire, as may be desired. The wine which stands on the common horseshoe tables is liable to be heated by the direct radiation from the grate, and thus to lose that refreshing coolness which is the great luxury of wine drinking, as contrasted with the use ot malt liquors and ardent spirits The top of these tables is 1887