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(Above photo - Regency Dining Table Extending 16 Feet Mahogany)
British antique dining tables evolved dramatically from the 17th to the 19th century, reflecting shifts in social habits, craftsmanship, and interior design. Here's a breakdown of the most iconic and collectable types:
(Above photo - Victorian Dining Table Extending Mahogany 10 Seater 1860)
Design: Hinged leaves on either side supported by swinging "gates" or legs.
Materials: Usually oak.
Style Notes: Compact and versatile; often used in smaller households or as multi-purpose tables.
Period: Late Stuart to early Georgian.
(Above photo - Victorian Walnut Dining Table Marquetry Inlay 10 Seater)
Design: Long, heavy tables with thick tops and trestle-style legs.
Materials: Oak, sometimes elm.
Style Notes: Originally used in monastic or noble settings; became fashionable again in the 19th-century Gothic Revival.
Period: Tudor origins with Victorian reinterpretations.
(Above photo - Regency Walnut Dining Table Extending Pedestal 10 Ft 304 CM)
Design: Two hinged leaves that can be raised or lowered.
Types: Includes Pembroke (small, elegant, with drawers) and sofa tables.
Style Notes: Ideal for flexible dining or tea service; found in both urban and country homes.
(Above photo - Refectory Table Fleur De Lys French Oak Farmhouse Dining)
Types: Extendable tables with D-ends, centre leaves, and gatelegs or clips for joining.
Materials: Rich mahogany and satinwood.
Style Notes: Elegant proportions, reeded legs, often with brass castors; can be broken into segments.
Design: Emphasis on expansion using removable leaves or extending mechanisms.
Base: Often pedestal-based, sometimes with quadruple sabre legs.
Features: Brass inlays, fine veneers, and classical motifs.
Style Notes: Sleek, neoclassical style suitable for the refined Regency dining room.
Design: Larger proportions, often with wind-out mechanisms and a central winding handle.
Materials: Mahogany, walnut, and oak.
Style Notes: Heavily carved pedestal or baluster legs; more ornate than earlier periods.
Innovation: Joseph Fitter’s patent wind-out extending table (c.1850s).
Design: Lighter, more delicate than Victorian; smaller proportions return.
Style Notes: Influence from earlier periods especially Sheraton and Hepplewhite styles. Marquetry and inlay became popular.
Materials: Mahogany, satinwood, and crossbanding techniques.
Design: Rustic and practical; often in farmhouse style.
Materials: Oak, elm, or pine.
Style Notes: Less formal; thick tops, drawer ends, and turned legs.
Usage: Favoured in cottages, manors, and rural homes throughout the 18th–19th centuries.
Examine leg styles: Turned (Stuart), cabriole (Georgian), sabre (Regency), or heavily carved (Victorian).
Look for tool marks: Hand-planed surfaces and dovetail joints suggest authenticity.
Hardware & mechanisms: Cast brass wheels or winding gear can help date pieces.
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