Mahogany Turned-Leg Side Table, c. 1940s
Viridian Eclection
The Furniture
A graceful Colonial Revival mahogany side table of the mid twentieth century, with a single drawer, brass hardware and a barley twist stretcher base.
It rests on turned baluster legs joined by the barley twist stretcher and terminating in fluted scroll feet.
The single drawer retains its original cast brass rosette pulls, framed by a gently molded apron and a beveled top edge. The whole shows the craftsmanship and the restrained ornamentation that defined American furniture design in the 1940s.
History & Provenance
In the decades after the Depression American makers revived earlier Federal and Sheraton forms, scaling them down for modern interiors.
Tables of this kind were produced in workshops such as Mersman, Imperial and Drexel, combining eighteenth century silhouettes with machine precision and warm, hand rubbed mahogany finishes. The origin here is American, likely Mersman or a similar workshop, and the attribution rests on the idiom and the construction rather than on a label.
Functional as well as elegant, they served as telephone stands, sewing tables and occasional pieces, blending nostalgia with utility. The form places this example at about 1930 to 1950, with the 1940s the most likely decade.
Product Details
| Era | c. 1930 to 1950, Colonial Revival |
| Origin | American, likely Mersman or a similar workshop |
| Form | Side table with single drawer, turned baluster legs, barley twist stretcher, fluted scroll feet, molded apron, beveled top edge |
| Materials | Mahogany veneer on solid birch |
| Hardware | Original cast brass rosette pulls |
| Dimensions | Approximately 28 inches high by 20 inches wide by 14 inches deep |
| Condition | Excellent structural integrity, with light finish wear consistent with age |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
This is a table with balance and poise, and it reads as well in a modern room as in a classic one. It works as an entryway catch all, a bedside companion, or a small writing or lamp table.
The deep mahogany tone contrasts against matte walls, velvet upholstery and brass accents, bringing a note of quiet refinement and inherited character to a contemporary interior.
It is well suited to curated vignettes, reading corners, and layered gallery settings where craftsmanship meets restraint, and the barley twist stretcher gives it more interest at knee height than most small tables have.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Visit the Eclection on Tuesdays, 10 am to 4 pm.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
