Heppelwhite made a great variety of other tables, such as “tambour writing tables,” “night-tables” shaving-tables, and dressing-tables of all kinds. His dressing-tables were the result of much thought. In them we see the convenient mechanical and folding arrangements that Sheraton carried so far in his various devices. In one of Heppelwhite’s dressing-tables, the drawer is divided into compartments for pins, combs, essences, etc., and the looking-glass rises from the drawer on hinges, or it can be made to lie flat. “Rudd’s Dressing Table” also appears, which Heppelwhite says is “the most complete dressing-table ever made, possessing every convenience which can be wanted; or mechanism, or ingenuity supply. It derives its name from a once popular character, for whom it was reported it was invented.” Here the drawers can be made to swing around in any desired position, and the looking-glasses also swing on pins after they are elevated.
Another ladies’ dressing-table is a simple table, the slab of which lifts up or can be opened out. In the centre of it is the dressing-glass which can be made to rise and stand. Around it are little compartments for articles of the toilet. Then he makes also what he calls dressing-drawers. This is an “ordinary chest-of-drawers, one drawer of which is fitted up as a dressing-drawer.” Some varieties have serpentine fronts. Two of his mahogany bason-stands appear as Nos. 1 and 2 on Plate LV. Hanging-shelves for books or china are made of mahogany and are suitable for ladies’ rooms.
Commodes are often richly inlaid; some of them indeed are made of satin-wood and are shaped like half a drum. Chests-of-drawers, double chests-of-drawers and wardrobes are of the plainest forms and made of plain mahogany with a simple ring handle or knob.
The long bookcase of the type on Plate XXXIX. Heppelwhite calls library case. Describing these, he says: “They are usually made of the finest mahogany; the doors of fine waved or curled wood. May be inlaid on the panels, etc., with various coloured woods. The ornamental sash bars are intended to be of metal which, painted of a light colour, or gilt, will produce a light, pleasing effect.” The dimensions are determined by the place where it is to stand.