Breakfast Table

The Norfolk cabinetmaking shop of James Woodward regularly utilized the work of enslaved cabinetmakers. Elizabeth Bailey hired out James, an enslaved cabinetmaker, to Woodward. James and other enslaved cabinetmakers crafted this mahogany breakfast table in 1819. To secure his freedom from his enslaver Bailey, James borrowed $120 from Woodward. James repaid his debt to Woodward by working as a journeyman cabinetmaker in his shop for one year. This table, made primarily of mahogany, features four elegantly turned pillars of mahogany veneer and poplar, a style often seen in Woodward’s shop. The table’s claw feet are finished with green paint and gold leafage. The underside of the table displays its detailed construction, showcasing the skills James acquired during his apprenticeship. His mastery of his craft was instrumental in securing his independence and permitted him to seek his own commissions following his time in Woodward’s shop.