What is the difference between a library and writing table?

In practice, very little. On Sellingantiques the two words are used almost interchangeably in titles, with writing appearing in around a quarter of them. Both describe a freestanding table with frieze drawers meant to be worked at. Centre table is used the same way, in about an eighth of titles.

How common are library tables on the market?

Around 126 come to market on Sellingantiques in a year, and 233 different dealers have listed one. That makes it a form almost every general furniture dealer handles at some point, rather than a specialist corner of the trade.

Which woods were used?

Mahogany is named in a third of all titles, rosewood in a fifth, then oak and walnut. Between them those four account for the great majority of timber named. Beyond the staples come burr walnut, pollard and burr oak, satinwood, kingwood, coromandel, calamander, zebrawood, birdseye maple and satin birch, each appearing once or twice.

Do these tables have leather tops?

Many do. Leather appears in 49 titles, with leather top in 30, sometimes gilt-tooled around the edge. The rest are timber-topped, and on drum tables the whole circular surface may be leather-inset.

What is a drum table used for?

A drum table is a circular top over a deep drawered frieze, often revolving so the drawers come round to the sitter. Where the drawers are lettered or numbered, it was made as a rent table for estate accounts. Around 57 turn up, in circular, octagonal and occasionally oval versions.

Are there Continental examples?

Yes, though English pieces dominate. French bureaux plats appear in 23 titles. The unusual ones are one-offs: a late 17th-century Dutch parquetry table, Portuguese and Spanish walnut and rosewood, a Swedish drum table, an Anglo-Indian padouk table, and Japanese and Italian marble-topped centre tables.

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Antique Library Tables

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A library table is a freestanding working table, finished on all sides so it can stand out in a room and be used from any side for reading, writing and consulting large books.