Rustic Carved Farm Table and Chairs -Beautiful and Primitive

by Shannah
(Ottumwa, Iowa)

Table and Chairs

My husband and I were looking for a nice solid table for our large family that would fit into our limited dining space AND limited budget. That was a big bill to fit so we have been looking for some time. I found this table listed on ebay within reasonable driving distance from us and ended up winning it. We drove nearly three hours to pick it up and were delighted with what we found when we got there.
This table and 6 chairs are wonderful, primitive pieces of craftsmanship and we would like to have some more information about them. The table is 32" wide x 72" long and about 33 3/4" tall. The top is comprised of a center slab that is 27" wide and framed by 4" boards for a total of 5 boards. And just to be clear the center slab is ONE board not multiple boards glued together. The table top is about 1 1/2 inches thick. The underside of the main slab is rough hewn. Each leg is carved from a single piece of wood. The apron/surround on the table is carved and the features are highlighted with bits green, red and gold. Each side is a single board that is about 1" thick. There doestn't appear to be any nails or screw used to hold the pieces together. The table is VERY solid.
The chairs are also very solid and do not seem to be nailed or screwed together. The carved detail at the top is done on a single board that sits between the upright supports. The back slates sit into grooves located in the seat and the carved piece. The seats on 4 of the chairs have splits in the wood. I am not crazy about the splits but they don't seem to affect the integrity of the chairs.
All of the pieces have a rough hewn look to them. The table top looks like it has seen lots of use. There are not maker marks or anything like that on any of the pieces. It screams to me of old farm but I am no expert. I don't know if this helps any but we did buy this set in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

We would appreciate any information and have more pictures. I would also like to know if there is anything I can do about the splits in the chair seats. Thanks, Shannah