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Page 22 The Antique Shoppe December, 2018
home so equipped would already have What is the real name of that style
COMMON SENSE checked to make sure her underwear table and how was it used? In archi-

PEER, PIER, CONSOLE OR wasn’t showing. And petticoats of the tectural terms the wall space between
ANTIQUES
two windows is called a “pier.” A
19th century were not like the modern
PETTICOAT? undergarment called the slip, which is piece of furniture designed to fit be-
tween the windows is a called a “pier
lightweight and secured by an elastic
By Fred Taylor band. In the 19th century the petticoat whatever” which leads us to the term
was a formidable piece of clothing
“pier mirror” and in this case “pier ta-
made of many layers of fabric that ble.” Note that it is “pier”, not “peer”
PEER, PIER, CONSOLE were sewn to fit and would not slide which means one’s equal. Eventu-
down due to faulty elastic. No lady
ally the terms came full circle. Here is
OR PETTICOAT? of the period how an eBay
seller in 2006
would think
of checking described his
One of America’s most favorite When it did come ashore it was her personal table “For
pieces of furniture in the first half of usually produced in the Chippendale apparel in those who
the 19th century was that odd size style around Philadelphia, inspired an open hall don’t know
table that usually sat in the hall and by plates CLXX and CLXXV of or foyer. Be- what a pier
had a mirror in the lower section. The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s sides that, table is, it
What was that thing called and what Director (London, 1762) by Thomas the architec- was a table
was it used for? Chippendale. The American version ture of the used in the
Old timers in the trade will call it a was made using Chippendale’s table, with foyer of a
“petticoat” table following the quaint English design and traditional English the top pro- home for la-
notion that it was used by Southern construction techniques employed jecting for- dies to be
ladies to check the exposure of their by an English trained Colonial ward, well able to check
petticoat before they left the house. cabinetmaker. out over the the length of
But there are a couple of things wrong The table became an American mirror, pre- their petticoat
with that notion. First, the table did staple during the Neo-Classical pe- vents any- slips to make
not appear primarily in the South. It riod of the Federal era in the early one, male or sure that they
first appeared in England around the 19th century, primarily in the North- female from This late Classicism mahogany pier table, were not
middle of the previous century, circa ern States, not in the South. But there actually seeing circa 1840, is the style usually referred showing.” Right
1750. But it didn’t take long for the is still a problem with the petticoat around the area to incorrectly as a “petticoat” table. name. Wrong
concept to make it to the American idea. Any lady with enough wealth to of their feet. (LiveAuctioneers.com/Garth’s Auction) use.
Colonies. own a table such as that or to visit a So much for the “petticoat” myth. Continued →

Webb’s

ANTIQUE MALL

64,000 Sq. Feet OPEN 7 DAYS 9 AM to 5 PM

25 miles N. of Gainesville • 1½ hours N. of Orlando

I-75 / EXIT 414 • Rte. US 141 & 41

245 SW WEBBS GLEN

LAKE CITY, FL

386-758-5564

Owners Verlon & Marcie Webb Visa, Discover, Mastercard Accepted

www.webbsantiquemall.com North FL
Map #1