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Today, we see many early tables with the stretchers very close to or actually touching the floor. However, almost all original tables were constructed with the stretchers well clear of the floor. There are several theories for this. Keeping the users feet clear of vermin and draughts, for example although, in the absence of conclusive evidence, these theories are pure speculation. From a purely symmetrical point of view, it makes some sense that whatever the extension above the stretcher top, before the turning commences, then this would be mirrored below the stretcher (see second photo below). Having said that, symmetry was never a particularly notable feature of early oak furniture!
Typically, early tables were much higher than today's preferences, 86.5cms (34") being quite normal for the majority up to circa . Before the widespread use of side chairs, household occupants sat on stools and these were generally higher than chair seats. Chinnery writes in his book Oak Furniture The British Tradition that standard dining stools were made quite high (usually 23-24inches).
This boarded elm stool of circa is 54.5cms high (21.5inches) and it is highly likely that much wear has taken place on the feet bottoms, judging by the residual rot present.
© Photo reproduced by kind permission of Period Oak Antiques of Presteigne.
Joined oak stool from almost a 100 years later (Charles 1, circa ), is 58.5cms high (23inches). Because the turned feet are still present, we can safely say that this was pretty well the original height when made.
© Photo reproduced by kind permission of Period Oak Antiques of Presteigne.
It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that tables were made to accommodate this higher seating position or, more likely, vice versa. Many well meaning 19th/20th century owners of original tables have reduced the height, by cutting off the base of the legs. This should be considered a rather drastic course of action, although severe rot, caused through contact with damp floors, may well have forced the issue anyway. In some cases rotted/damaged table legs have been re-tipped, but not necessarily back to where they were originally. However, whatever the reason for the lack of leg extension below the stretchers, this must not be confused with how the original craftsmen intended the table to look. See also Chinnery p265: '...it is important to realise that no joined furniture was originally made in this manner'.
The table above dates back to and is just over 81cms (32inches) high, even with the stretchers almost touching the floor. Although we can only surmise, it is probable that when first made, this table would have been somewhere around 86.5cms (34inches).
© Photo reproduced by kind permission of Marhamchurch Antiques.
During the Stuart period (-), table height reduced to somewhere near where we prefer them today, 76cms (30inches). Interestingly, this coincides with the more widespread use of side chairs, as opposed to (normally higher seat) boarded and joined stools.
This table dates from and its height is 77.5cms (30.5inches). Although the feet have been re-tipped, it is likely that this later restoration represents a fair indication of what the distance between stretcher and floor, would have been originally. Note that in this example, the measurement from rail bracket to shoulder of leg turning, closely matches the distance between the lower turning shoulder to stretcher top, as well as the gap below the stretcher.
© Photo reproduced by kind permission of Marhamchurch Antiques.
Long tables and trestle tables, from Medieval (14th century) right up to and including the Stuart period (17th century), were usually very narrow 66cms-76cms (26ins-30ins), or thereabouts. I use the word 'usually' because, as with most things in life, there are exceptions to the rule. Two such examples are the massive tables in the Great Hall of Penshurst Place, Kent. Although wider than the norm, these tables are still relatively narrow when compared to their length. One table is 94cms (37inches) wide over a length of 665cms (21ft10ins) and the other 100cms (39inches) wide over a length of 840cms (27ft7inches). They date from the late 15th century, which is not long after the building of the manor house itself, around 150 years earlier.
The late 15th century trestle table at Penshurst Place, from The Age of Oak by Percy Macquoid.
© Photo reproduced by kind permission of The Antique Collectors Club.
The long table above dates from . It is only 75.5cms (29.75inches) wide and demonstrates that narrow tables persisted well into the 17th century.
© Photo reproduced by kind permission of Marhamchurch Antiques.
In the great halls of Medieval houses, sitters would be one side only against the wall facing inwards and be served from the other side, thus requiring less table width than would be required for sitters opposite each other. During this period large numbers of people, including servants, estate workers and craftsmen, dined together in the presence of the lord of the manor and his family. Such mass dining gave way to smaller numbers in smaller, more private, rooms, largely as a result of the Tudors dismantling the social framework around medieval barons.
Although wider tables started to become more commonplace, this characteristic narrowness of table lingered on for several centuries, long after medieval dining practises ceased.
A plausible explanation is that serving or side tables were still commonplace during the 16th and 17th century. They trace their origins back to the 'cup-board' (literally a board for cups), from the Middle Ages. The term 'court cup-board' likely originates from the French word 'court', which means short, i.e. low enough to serve from. Chinnery explains that side tables and court cup-boards, of one or more tiers, were for the purpose of 'displaying valuable plate and food, or for serving from during meals'. Wolsey & Luff commented on the Itinerary of by Fynes Moryson: '...Neither use they to set drink on the table, for which no room is left, but the cups and glasses are served in upon a side-table, drink being offered to none till they call for it'. Consequently, it would appear that the dining table only had to be as wide as was necessary to accommodate two platters or plates opposite each other. Today we tend to serve from the dining table itself and it follows that additional space is required through the centre of the table for the extra dishes, which would otherwise have been on a separate table or 'cup-board'.
This characteristic narrowness means it is possible to create a table top from one single plank. Such tables are relatively rare and highly valued in the early oak antiques market. The availability of large enough trees and the difficulties of pit-sawing large sections, would go some way to limit the potential width of a single plank table top.
The 17th century Italian table above, has been made with one single plank of walnut and is just 71cms (28inches) in width.
© Photo reproduced by kind permission of Period Oak Antiques of Presteigne.
Curiously, withdrawing tables (drawer leaf) were generally wider, 86cms-89cms (34inches-35inches), even during their Elizabethan heyday (although these were typically made up of several planks). I will cover the subject of withdrawing tables in a later blog.
The Elizabethan withdrawing table above is 89cms (35inches) in width and is typical of such pieces.
© Photo reproduced by kind permission of Marhamchurch Antiques.
You may also like to see:
What is the ideal Dining Table and Chair Height?
A Guide to Choosing the Ideal Dining Table Width
Author; By Nicholas Berry
Bespoke Reproduction Early Oak Furniture Specialist
From a small boy at infant school, I've had a passion for early furniture and architecture, embracing the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. I've spent almost three decades designing and making replica early oak furniture (and architectural woodwork)...with my own hands!
Nowadays, together with a team of highly skilled and equally passionate craftspeople, I use that valuable experience helping clients commission, from our company, the very best in bespoke oak reproduction furniture, with a particular emphasis on personal service.
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© Early Oak Reproductions
Bibliography:
Oak Furniture - The British Tradition by Victor Chinnery
Furniture in England - The Age of the Joiner by S.W. Wolsey and R.W. Luff
Tables are likely one of the most under-appreciated types of furniture in our homes, yet they provide the foundation for much of our home decor. From side tables displaying your cherished photos and collectibles to occasional tables providing the backdrop for family meals and celebrations, the table has a unique history and evolution from simple wood planks to the multitude of styles and forms available today. If you are hoping to learn more about antique wood tables and more, read on.
Have you ever wondered if your sofa table or coffee table has special origins? This guide on how to identify antique tables might just tell you if you're housing an antique piece of rare furniture. The most basic of furnishings, the table has been in use for thousands of years, though not just for dining. The ancient Egyptians crafted simple 4-legged tables of stone and wood, while the Greeks and Romans utilized more exotic materials such as bronze and cedar to craft tables that often resembled altars with slab sides for support. Later Roman examples were more decorative and often featured elaborate legs in the shape of animals, sphinxes, and other grotesque figures and were crafted lower to the ground to accommodate dining from couches.
Western dining tables, most notably those of the Medieval period, were simple planks that rested upon trestles using peg construction, which allowed them to be easily assembled and disassembled as needed. Known as "refectory tables," these trestle-based tables originated in monasteries and were later adopted for use in the Great Halls of feudal castles.
Massive rectangular antique wood tables made of oak and elm took center stage at large gatherings, but they proved to be cumbersome and difficult to move after the feasts had concluded. This was problematic as most halls were used for other purposes in addition to dining. It would be some time before the idea of a dedicated room for dining took hold.
In the 16th century, the invention of the &#;draw top&#; or &#;joined&#; table allowed you to double the length of your table with leaves that rested beneath the table top and could be extended on runners from beneath other leaves. Such tables proved to be more compact and versatile in the world of furniture design and were the first iterations of mechanical and specialized tables that were to follow over the next several hundred years.
It was also during this time that tables began to better reflect, and often define, the styles of the period, typically through the design and number of legs that supported the table. For example, the large bulbous legs of the 16th-century table are one of the most recognizable design elements of the Tudor period and can be found on most antique tables of that time.
It was around this time that we saw the development of many other types of antique tables, crafted to serve more specific purposes. From pier tables to hall tables, drafting tables to billiard tables, the various types of tables seem endless. Below is a quick guide on how to identify antique tables, table types, and some of the terminology used when referring to vintage table design. You will note that many of these terms can be used to describe a single table. For example, a tilt-top table may also feature a pie crust edge and a pedestal base.
The predominant table of the Middle Ages, the trestle table is characterized by a tabletop that sits upon a trestle, a framework consisting of a horizontal stretcher or beam supported by pairs of sloping and crossed, or central legs that are inset from the edge of the table. Trestle tables allowed for maximum seating without the hindrance of table legs placed at four corners. In the early days of the trestle table, this was important as diners were often only seated on one side of the table while food and drink were served from the other side. These early tables were of peg construction and could be easily disassembled, which was important because most early castles did not have rooms dedicated to dining. The trestle table's sensible design remains popular even today.
The gate leg table was first used in England in the late s as dining habits began to change. More intimate dining arrangements required smaller tables that could also be easily stored or moved when not in use. Early gate leg tables featured 6 legs and featured two hinged leaves that dropped down when not in use. When opened, these "flaps" were supported on pivoted legs that could swing out from the frame, joined at the top and bottom by stretchers, thus resembling a gate.
This oval drop leaf table exhibits classic ball and claw feet and dates to the mid-18th century. From the collection of the LA County Museum of Art.
Another style of drop leaf table also features a fixed section in the center with two hinged leaves that fold down on either side. Unlike the gate leg table, the four legs of the drop leaf table are fixed, and the leaves are supported by a simple bracket instead of additional legs that pivot from the base. Drop leaf tables can feature oval, round, square, or rectangular tops, and the leaves can range in size from a few inches in length to almost touching the ground. Early examples of an antique drop leaf table were found primarily in England as far back as the Elizabethan era.
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According to English furniture designer Thomas Sheraton, Pembroke tables took their name from "that lady who first gave the orders for one of them, who probably gave the first idea of such a table to the workmen,&#; referring to Mary Herbert, the Countess of Pembroke (-). It is more likely that this lightweight occasional table was named after Henry Herbert, the 9th Earl of Pembroke (-), an amateur architect whose lifetime more closely corresponds with the appearance of these versatile tables.
Crafted in a range of sizes and styles, the Pembroke table is characterized by a central drawer and two flaps of various shapes, which, when raised, are supported by hinged brackets known as &#;elbows.&#; Pembroke tables, also known as &#;flap and elbow tables,&#; were usually crafted of mahogany and generally featured slim tapered legs. A set of casters at their base made them easy to move and thus very convenient for taking a bedside meal, writing a letter, or serving tea. In America, Pembroke tables were crafted of a wider variety of woods such as cherry or maple.
The word demilune is French and translates to &#;half-moon&#; which perfectly describes these &#;half-round&#; tables. These semi-circular tables were designed to hug the wall with the absence of corners. Popular in France in the s, demilunes were the perfect, compact piece to adorn the narrow hallways or entryways of Parisian homes. They can be found in virtually every style, from the ornate Louis XVI style to the more classic English Hepplewhite and Sheraton antique table styles. They were crafted of mahogany, satinwood, or gilt wood. Fine examples would also include exquisite marble top counters, marquetry, or hand-painted decoration. These versatile tables might also include drawers or even a single drop leaf.
The console table style reached the height of fashion during the Louis XV period and, in keeping with decorating dictates, they were often considered more a part of the architecture than merely a furniture piece. As a rule, it was believed that no single element of the 18th-century interior should be considered on its own. Every element from upholstery to hardware served to unify the design of the room. As their popularity spread, console tables were crafted in an endless number of iterations, but they have one central feature in common: they are designed to sit flush against a wall or other flat surface. Early console tables generally featured two legs which were supported by an S-shaped bracket known as a "console." Later examples began to incorporate 4 legs which allowed them to be freestanding without the need for support brackets. A console differs from a demilune table in that it can be found in all shapes.
The French guéridon is a small round table supported by a single column, or three or four legs, often featuring sculptural mythological figures crafted of wood, bronze, or other metal. The guéridon was first introduced in France around the middle of the 17th century and was originally used to hold candelabra or vases. It was also used as a high-style decorative piece of furniture in the courts of the French kings and could be adorned with marble, marquetry, decorative paintings, porcelain, or any number of exotic materials. In fact, when King Louis XIV died in , Versailles housed several hundred of these diminutive tables. Their compact size and variety of styles make them a perfect addition to any decor.
A pedestal table can be any type or size of table that is supported by a single column or pedestal, or in the case of dining tables, multiple pedestals. Candle stands were some of the first pedestal tables to appear, followed by larger examples that became popular in the late 18th century. Smaller homes used larger pedestal tables for dining, while others utilized them as side tables or display tables. In America, the pedestal dining table found footing during the Victorian era and was crafted from a variety of wood including oak. Pedestal tables are identified by their central, often large, and ornate pedestal support and, while they are most often round, you can also find square pedestal tables. The style of the pedestal feet and the shape of the pedestal can indicate the period in which the table was crafted.
It is little wonder that this table style originated in England, a country inextricably associated with tea and its rituals. But the tea table was also popular in the American colonies where the ritual of tea drinking was also followed. A tea table is quite simply a small, sturdy table used for serving tea. Until the early 18th-century, tea tables were most often rectangular in shape. However, after around , the round tea table became more popular and included pie-crust tables, tilt-top tables, simply adorned tables, and highly carved and ornate tables. Some tea tables are fitted with a removable tray top. The tea table would be moved to the center of the room for afternoon tea and returned when not in use.
This small, round furniture style tea table originated in England in the mid-18th century and is most associated with Queen Anne and Chippendale furniture styles. The table is distinguished by a top with a raised carved or molded scalloped edge that resembles the crimped crust of a pie. Generally set atop a single pedestal with a tripod base, pie crust tables typically measure between 25 and 30 inches across and often feature a tilt top. Most often crafted of mahogany, the finest examples of this antique wood table style feature tops made from a single piece of wood.
The American version of the pie crust table first found favor with the Philadelphia cabinet makers who added their own special flair. In fact, a Philadelphia pie crust table was the first piece of furniture to break the $1 million dollar mark at auction in , selling for $1,045,000 at Christie's. In , another Philadelphia example sold for $6,761,000.
Drum tables, so called because of their round, drum-like shape, were popular in England in the 18th and 19th centuries and were generally used in the libraries of wealthy households. The top of the table was often covered with leather or inlay work and was fitted with drawers in its deep apron, making it a useful workspace for organizing one&#;s business affairs.
Also known as a &#;rent&#; table, landlords would use them to collect rent. Money would be placed in one of the drawers and the table would be rotated to the other party who would retrieve the money from the drawer. It was considered a gentlemanly and discreet way of exchanging funds. These tables can be found in any number of styles, woods, and decorations, however, they are easily identified by their shape, comparatively low stature, and deep apron fitted with drawers.
These large "wake" tables were skillfully constructed with folding side panels to display and support a coffin before burial. Wake tables, especially of this phenomenal size and quality, are rarely found outside of Ireland. Circa
Perhaps one of the most fascinating of all tables, the Irish wake table is much more than a finely crafted table, it is an Irish tradition. These large, beautiful tables feature rounded leaves that, when folded, flank a central table top that is exactly the width and length of a coffin. When the leaves are opened, the table forms an oval shape.
Celtic tradition mandated that the body of the recently departed had to be watched constantly for various purported reasons, among them the potential theft of the body and soul by evil spirits. Thus, the coffin would be set upon the wake table, allowing mourners to protect and pay their last respects to the deceased.
When not called into service, these tables were also used for dining or as hunt tables, carried outdoors to hold refreshments for the hunt. Wake tables are exceptionally rare and can vary in quality. They are often crafted of oak or mahogany and feature 8 legs, four fixed and four swing legs, to support the leaves. Other examples feature sliding brackets that support the extended leaves.
The hunt table was used for enjoying refreshments before and after a fox hunt. The table&#;s unique semi-circular design, removable leaf, and brass serving mechanism, allowed this versatile table to be utilized in a number of ways. First, it could be brought into a parlor in front of a roaring fire, with the pivoting brass &#;chariot&#; in the center holding a warming beverage that could be slid around the table on its track to serve the huntsmen. Second, the chariot could be removed to allow a member of the hunt staff to serve the hunters outdoors either before the hunt or upon their return. Third, the table could be used as a serving station in a living room, with the center leaf installed and placed against a wall as a buffet.
The antique games table, designed for the specific purpose of playing games, is an exceptionally versatile piece of wood furniture that enjoyed popularity across Europe and America. The games table is generally characterized by its double layered top that could be flipped open on a hinge to double the size of the table. Once open, these antique dining room and accent tables might feature a leather or felted playing surface, or in some case, an inlaid chess or backgammon board. The decorative style of these tables varies widely, reflecting the location and period in which they were crafted. The mechanisms can also vary widely, with some featuring a swinging leg to support the leaf, and others set upon a swivel mechanism that when turned, allows the surface to be supported on fixed legs or a pedestal. There are even examples that feature multiple table layers that open to reveal multiple playing surfaces.
If you&#;re curious about flatware or other furniture that often accompanied a table for dining purposes, read on about the history of silverware and historical chairs.
&#; Routine dusting with a soft dry cloth is all that is generally needed to maintain your antique table. Be careful when dusting to avoid snagging your soft cloth on any loose veneers, hardware, or mounts.
&#; When you wax, apply a very thin coat with the grain of the wood, allow it to dry, and then buff with a clean cloth. A second buffing after a few hours can further enhance the wood.
&#; Avoid any kind of spray wax (wax in a can) or polish. Most have a high level of harsh chemicals in them, including silicone, which can soak into the wood and leave a film.
&#; Do not use metal cleaners on bronze or brass mounts. Such cleaners can damage and remove the finish of the surrounding wood. They can also settle into crevices and turn white, becoming very difficult to remove.
&#; Wear gloves when handling any item with bronze or brass mounts as the acid and oil secreted from your skin can actually corrode the metal and leave marks that are very hard to remove.
&#; For intricately carved pieces, don&#;t use a dry cloth as it can snag carved edges and cause damage. Instead, use a good-quality feather duster.
&#; When it comes to humidity and temperature, maintaining a steady environment can go a long way in preserving the beauty and integrity of your piece of solid wood furniture.
&#; Caring for antique furniture is critical to ensure your treasured antiques remain intact. If you are ever unsure about how to clean them or make a repair, it is always best to consult a professional restorer.
If your curiosity around furniture extends beyond antique tables, check out other antique objects for sale within our vast collections.
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