Folk Art

These two little tables are smoking tables. I have had several over time though these two are the only ones I have left. These smoking tables were made by itinerant travelers working their way across America. Much like tramp art boxes, frames and even furniture, these bent wood pieces were the makers' bread and butter; often they were done in exchange for food and boarding. It has been said that gypsies and African Americans also fashioned these. The use of silver paint, usually for accents, was common. This paint was called haint blue paint, supposedly to ward off evil spirits and ghosts. The one in the top photo has gold paint accents which I have never seen before. If you look closely, it is also painted with a dark stain to imitate a faux wood grain finish. There is usually a pipe rest and this one even has a little road on top. The bottom smoking stand has been painted which you don't find very often. The roof has a painted robin on it. It too has a pipe stand and often you will find a handle on the top to carry the stand easily from one place to the other.