This dining table is eight feet long. However, it extends to over eleven feet with leaves contained within the table. The hardware system, designed and built by Lee Grindinger, offsets the weight of the leaves as they are unfolded. A slight five pounds lift manipulates the leaves weighing fifty pounds.

See Ruth demonstrate.

Many other functional aspects are meticulously designed into this fine furnishing, like a pop-up lazy susan and hidden drawer.

Each cabriole leg stands upon a carved claw and ball foot. The table appears to float upon the wings of four different figures: a cherub, an adolescent, an adult and an old man. The shell and floral carvings, characteristic of my designs, flow around the apron and is complemented above with a bead and rod molding.

"Bubinga is one of my favorite woods for tables. It is extremely hard, therefore durable. Its color is a deeply rich dark reddish brown, and the texture is ideal for carving."

Bubinga is a very heavy wood. The greatest weight is supported upon the center pedestal under the table. Fully adjustable, this pedestal will conform to any floor surface or contour. Once adjusted, this table can be easily opened with one hand.

A lazy susan at the center is framed with an inlay fashioned of maple, purple heart and red narra. There are actually two interchangeable susans. One is simply Bubinga and the other is an intarsia eagle (described more fully below).

In either end of the table are concealed drawers opened by pressing four buttons in sequence. I designed the mechanism pictured here to actuate the drawers.

Look carefully. Can you detect the edge of the hidden drawer?

In either end of the table are concealed drawers opened by a set of four hidden buttons. Once all four buttons are pressed in sequence the drawer springs open.

Lee's ingenious drawer mechanism, designed and built by him, is seen at right.