Folding Tabletop Easel Appraisal

Vintage Folding Tabletop Wood Easel

This item is a small, folding tabletop easel constructed from solid wood with a medium reddish-brown stained finish. It features a tripod-style frame with a hinged back leg, secured by a metal limit chain to prevent over-extension. The front frame integrates a curved ledge designed to hold a book, small canvas, or decorative plate. Physically, the easel stands approximately 10 to 12 inches tall and shows signs of significant age and use. Notable condition issues include heavy edge wear and chipping on the front support ledge, numerous scuffs and surface scratches along the frame members, and a general dulling of the original finish. The construction utilizes simple pinning or nail joints, suggestive of mid-20th-century mass production. There are no visible maker's marks or stamps in the provided view. The craftsmanship is functional rather than decorative, with square-cut slats and a basic curved cutout on the tray. Its style is utilitarian, likely dating from the 1960s to 1980s, and it displays a genuine aged patina consistent with long-term storage or frequent handling.