How interesting! I’m sorry I don’t have any answers for you, but just enjoyed reading your story and want to follow along. :)

Perhaps showing the whole table would give an idea. Shipping a large dining table back at that time would normally mean that it was able to be taken apart and put back together except in the most wealthiest families so is there any evidence that this happened. Dimensions could also help.

Those numbers appear to me to be pressed into the wood not burned or gouged so it probably was manufactured either in Australia or elsewhere.

Great story! It's so nice to know a piece's history.

If it was shipped from the UK it would likely have been English oak (blond, weighs a ton, wide grain), or mahogany (weighs less, can be rather brittle, tricky to repair), or, less likely walnut (also heavy, dark, very tight grain, may still smell of walnuts if you dampen a bit).

A picture of it assembled, or a screen/snap shot of one similar would help.

2 things....one never EVER "sand down" an antique....you remove signs or age which i what makes it desirable.
Secondly....a picture of the whole item would help....and leff blurry focused pictures of the grain etc would help.
Am I seeing Phillips screws on the apron? that would date it as "not before".

I'm pretty sure that's a 8881 and not a 1888. Do take more photos!

Hi Thanks for all your comments and thoughts. As a number of you pointed out my first photo attempts left a little to be desired so I have re assembled the table and taken some (hopefully beter quality) photos. The bits that i have cleaned up (one leg and the side support beams) are showing clearly.

The main point(s) of my enquiry was

Any thoughts on the type of timber?

Is the 1888 stamped in to the under support beam a build date or something else?

However any other thoughts or comments will be greatfully recieved.

Family Dining Table · More Info

Family Dining Table · More Info

Family Dining Table · More Info

Family Dining Table · More Info

Need a clear close up of the wood where you have sanded it.....
the number is most assuredly not a date. Furniture wasn't dated with random numbers stamped in.
The grain looks very like walnut, but the color is lighter.....could it be chesnut? What woods are used for furniture in Australia?

And here are some photos showing a clear close up of the wood where I have sanded it. Hope this helps.

Bill

Nice solid table! It looks like walnut, I think, and going by the first image in your most recent post, where you can see a wee bit of damage to the bottom edge of the top, the top may be veneer? You can tell by looking at the sides of the top relative to the top, and figuring out whether all the grain matches. If it's veneer that's not a problem, just be more careful sanding or stripping, as it can buckle!

It doesn't read walnut to me but that doesn't mean it isn't. :)

Whatever it is, it's a very elegant design and with the family history and its own good looks, I hope it finds a spot it in your home.

I sort of agree that it is made of English Walnut or light cherry vs other types of walnut. I do not believe it as old as the poster thinks it is given the color of the finish unless it has been refinished before.

Thanks to all for your feedback, its been enlightening. I will be sure to post a photo of the finished project when its done. (Unless I make a complete mess of it!) However I now have a deadline as our 3 year old grandson is coming to visit in early December and he will make the 5th generation of our family to sit at this table.

I agree with lindac about the sanding. Sanding destroys nearly all the antique value (if any) of the piece. I also agree that the numbers are 8881, not 1888. The picture is taken with the numbers upside down (the 8's are upside down).

Though I'm not an expert, it doesn't appear all that old to me. But it is a neat family heirloom.

Cool story. Looking forward to seeing final product