Can the leather top be replaced?

Yes, a damaged leather skiver is easy to replace. Bookbinders and specialist restorers supply new hides tooled with gilt borders. They scrape out the old material and glue the fresh skin into the original recess. It gives the table an immediate lift.

My grandfather left me a heavy mahogany table that has handles on both sides, but half the drawers won't open at all. Is it broken?

You are looking at dummy drawers. Makers wanted antique library tables to look symmetrical from every angle because they sat in the middle of the room. Working drawers only sit on one side, or they alternate. The handles on the solid panels are just bolted on for show. Pulling at them will only stress the timber. Check the opposite side, and you will likely find the real working drawers.

How do I clean the wood?

Dust it with a dry cloth. If the polish looks dull, apply a thin coat of good beeswax every six months. Leave the wax to harden for an hour before buffing it off with a soft duster. Avoid modern aerosol sprays, as the silicone builds up and smears the finish.

I am trying to figure out if the castors on this pedestal desk should be removed to make it sit flat on the rug, or do they belong there?

They belong there. Heavy nineteenth-century carcase furniture was almost always fitted with castors to help servants move it for sweeping. Taking them off lowers the table. The proportions will look wrong, and you will likely find the kneehole height too tight for sitting comfortably. Leave them on. If they dent your rug, buy small wooden castor cups to spread the weight.

Home > Tables > Library Tables > Page 6

Victorian Library Tables

← Page 6 of 20 →

Designed to sit in the centre of a room rather than against a wall, antique library tables feature finished backs and often incorporate tooled leather writing surfaces, providing a substantial, freestanding workspace for writing and studying.