1950s Mid-Century Allied Arts Black Walnut Trestle Table (Signed by Artisan Marty Nelson)

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A rare piece of Northern California design history: This solid wood black walnut trestle dining table was handcrafted in 1952 … Read more A rare piece of Northern California design history: This solid wood black walnut trestle dining table was handcrafted in 1952 by Martin "Marty" Nelson, the resident wood craftsman and sculptor at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. This beautiful piece features his hallmark rustic European-influenced guild style, which characterized many of the pieces he made at the Allied Arts' historic woodworking shop. The underside bears Nelson's original carved signature (see photo, attached).

The table was part of the furnishings of the Sunset Magazine campus in Menlo Park, where I worked as the food editor. The Lane family, who owned Sunset, commissioned many pieces from Allied Arts.

Perfect as a rustic dining table or a buffet table for entertaining, this is a true collector's piece for enthusiasts of the California Studio Craft movement. See less