The Old Furniture Book, with a Sketch of Past Days and WaysMoore, N. Hudson
History
The Old Furniture Book, with a Sketch of Past Days and Ways
Moore, N. Hudson
Furniture
Card-tables were also made in great varieties and numbers by this
same maker, and his graceful designs were copied by other and less
well-known makers, so that these tables, at least in "Chippendale
style," are not uncommon. His card-tables were of two styles, with
leaves which folded together on top when not in use, and a plain oblong
table without leaves. As card-playing was one of the most fashionable
pursuits of the day in England, which fashion was followed with
becoming promptitude by us. It is seen that many of these tables were
needed to accommodate the gay world. Those most esteemed were the kind
with leaves, which could seat a larger party than the oblong ones, and
which, when not in use, could be folded together and set against the
wall. Both styles, when made by Chippendale, were decorated only with
carving. During the last half of the eighteenth century there were
probably few families who did not own at least one card-table.
Gambling at cards had always been an amusement at courts, and there
were many games in vogue. Ombre had been introduced in the previous
century by Catherine of Braganza, and quadrille was another favorite
game of hers. Pepys under date of February 17, 1666-7, alludes to the
fact that Catherine played not only on week days but on Sundays as well.
"This evening, going to the Queene's side to see the ladies, I
did find the Queene, the Duchesse of York, and another or two
at cards, with the room full of great ladies and men, which I
was amazed at to see of a Sunday, having not believed it, but
contrarily, flatly denied the same a little while since to my
cosen Roger Pepys."
The next reign, that of James II., saw basset introduced, and it
retained its popularity through several reigns and was still the mode
when Queen Anne occupied the throne. It broke "into her hours by day as
well as by night," and the drain on the privy purse was excessive, for
the queen was a good loser. The Cocoa-Tree Club, at No. 64 St. James
Street, London, was, during Queen Anne's reign, a regular gambling-den.
Walpole says:
"Within this week there has been a cast at hazard at the
Cocoa-Tree, the difference of which amounted to £180,000."
By George II.'s reign cards were universal. The preface to the "Court
Gamster" says:
"Gaming has become so much the fashion that he who in company
should be ignorant of the games in vogue would be reckoned
low-bred and hardly fit for conversation."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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