What are the tiny wheels on the legs called?

Those are castors. Victorian makers fitted them to furniture so servants could move heavy items around a drawing room without lifting them. Early ones have small brass wheels. By the middle of the nineteenth century, cabinet makers switched to white or brown ceramic wheels on a brass mechanism.

My grandmother left me a drop leaf table that is really narrow when folded, but how do I know if it's a Sutherland table or just a gateleg?

The defining feature is the proportion of the top. A standard gateleg table has a broad centre section and moderate leaves. Antique Sutherland tables show a stark contrast. The fixed centre measures just a few inches wide, while the drop leaves reach close to the floor. They also rely on a lighter frame. The legs swing out from a narrow trestle rather than forming a wide box structure.

Can I use one as a dining table?

Most are too low and unstable for dining. The makers designed them for taking tea from low parlour chairs. The narrow base means they tip easily if leaned upon.

The wooden edge where the flap joins the middle part seems to overlap in a curved shape, why did they build the joint like that?

You are looking at a rule joint. Cabinet makers routed a convex curve on the fixed top and a matching concave curve on the leaf. This stops an ugly square gap appearing when the leaf hangs down. The metal hinges sit recessed underneath the wood, keeping the moving parts hidden.

Home > Tables > Sutherland Tables > Page 2

Victorian Sutherland Tables

← Page 2 of 5 →

A Sutherland table is a Victorian drop-leaf design featuring a very narrow fixed central top and deep hinged leaves that fall almost to the floor, designed to tuck away easily but open out large enough to serve afternoon tea.