How do you care for the wood?

Dust the surface with a dry cloth regularly. Avoid silicon-based spray polishes as they build up a cloudy layer over the old finish. Apply a good quality beeswax once or twice a year. Buff it out firmly to protect the timber and feed the existing patina.

We have an uneven flagstone floor in our dining room and I am worried a large rigid frame is just going to wobble constantly when we try to eat?

Many larger dining setups from this era actually sit on central pedestals rather than a rigid four-leg frame. A tripod or tetrapod base naturally finds its own level on uneven floors. You might also consider a piece with adjustable brass castors. Some castors allow a tiny bit of play to settle the feet firmly. Avoid solid six-leg frames if your floor is wavy. They struggle to sit flat without placing stress on the carcase joints.

Can they take warm plates?

Modern plates straight from a hot oven will damage a shellac or wax finish. Heat turns the polish white and leaves distinct rings in the surface. Always use heat-resistant mats under warm dishes. If the meal is just standard dining temperature, a thick cloth offers enough protection for the timber underneath.

I want to buy a drop leaf design for our hallway but my husband thinks the hinged parts will sag over time if we leave them folded down for months on end?

The hinges are designed to bear the weight of the leaves when dropped. Leaving them hanging vertically places no undue stress on the joints or the timber. The rule joint actually supports the timber edge neatly. It prevents the leaf from swinging inwards or twisting on the brass hinges. Problems usually only occur when the leaves are lifted without fully extending the gateleg underneath. Hanging down is their natural resting state.

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Georgian Tables in South West

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Spanning the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Georgian tables are well-proportioned wooden pieces standing on turned or carved legs, originally designed to facilitate dining, card playing, and tea drinking in affluent homes.