I know very little about this tilt-top tea table. It was my mother’s, and probably was from one of my grandmothers. I wish I knew more. I like the table and the wood is beautiful. The stake comes out of the cage and the table can be stored flat.
S. Lancaster

The tripod table was introduced in England during the 1730s. Most were of solid wood, but later tables were veneered. Tops are usually round and were made so that they can tilt to a vertical position and be stored in a corner of a room when not in use. The top was fixed by means of two bearers and held in place with a brass catch. Some have a “birdcage” support, where the whole mechanism fits on the top of the pedestal. A peg through the stem allows the top to rotate, tilt or be fixed in place.

Your table is an English George III mahogany tilt-top tea table with a dish top, birdcage mechanism, snake legs and pad feet. It is from the late 1700s. Original tables are hard to find in such wonderful condition. Because of the desirability of the table and its condition, this piece would sell for between $2,000 and $2,500.

Werner von Bauer, an old family friend, emigrated from Germany in the 1930s. He brought with him a carved wooden cookie board that belonged to his father, a German baker. One side of the board depicts animals and the other side village people. Mr. Werner passed the cookie board along to my husband in 1982. We have always wanted an appraisal on the board and hope that you can help.
M. Correjolles

The oldest evidence of cookies–also known as sweet cakes–was found in the Indus Valley dating back to 2500 BC. It is said that Greek slaves taught baking to the Romans. Molded cookies were made of stiff dough or sweet honey marzipan paste and the motif was typically religious or ritualistic. In the13th century, gingerbread bakers used very special rye dough with honey and spices instead of yeast dough.

By the mid 14th century, because of the large shipments of sugar from the Far East, the gingerbread tradition was very strong in Europe. During the 18th century, springerle, “small jumping horse” molded cookies, reached the height of popularity. The push for mass production of bakery cookies for the common man led to carvers putting more images on one piece of wood, often including both sides. This was known as the cookie board.

A German baker discovered that cutting an insert of tin would greatly speed the production and profits of cookies. The cookie cutter was invented, and the wooden molds, which were one-of-a-kind creations, rapidly became history. Metal cookie cutters began to take the place of wooden molds; today, antique molds are used as decorative pieces.

Your cookie board is German and dates from 1870-1880. In good condition, it would sell for between $200 and $400.

If you’ve always wanted an appraisal of a special antique or an unusual vintage piece, e-mail a photograph of the item to pennie@insidenorthside.com or mail to Inside Northside, P.O. Box 9148, Mandeville, LA 70470. Include any known information, such as age of item and place of origin, and any other historical facts. Photographs cannot be returned and only those items selected for use in Inside Northside will be appraised.

Pennie Carr is a northshore antiques appraiser, auctioneer, and owner of Auction Louisianne, Inc. in Covington.

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