Accent Side Table
An accent side table brings a practical surface to a room, appearing in forms from Victorian burr walnut to Georgian mahogany.
Accent Side Table
An accent side table provides a compact surface for lamps, drinks, or display, functioning equally as an occasional table, wine table, or lamp table. You meet these pieces in periods ranging from the eighteenth century through the Victorian and Edwardian eras into the nineteen-thirties.
The selection on this page includes circular specimen marble pieces, tripod bases, nest of tables, and drop-leaf pembroke tables. Woods such as mahogany, oak, walnut, and burr walnut dominate the selection, alongside lacquer and marble.
Makers and styles span Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and Arts and Crafts, with pieces originating from Britain, Sweden, France, Italy, and Burma.
How they were made
Cabinet makers utilised dense hardwoods like mahogany, oak, walnut, and yew, often applying burr walnut or kingswood veneers to the primary surfaces. Marquetry inlay, brass mounts, and gilt metal details frequently decorate the frames.
Table tops incorporate varied materials including polished wood, lacquered chinoiserie, specimen marble, and leather inserts. Construction methods include tilt-top pedestals, tripod legs, folding campaigns, and spider leg frames.
Accent Side Table Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for accent side table among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Spider leg tables deploy legs as thin as twigs yet somehow hold your afternoon tea without a wobble.
What varies in quality
The standard of timber selection and veneer matching defines the upper tier of these tables, particularly where burr walnut or figured mahogany is employed. Pierced carving, crisp marquetry, and original brass or gilt metal mounts separate ambitious workshops from standard production.
Structural integrity relies upon the joinery of the pedestal, tripod, or leg assembly, alongside the retention of original table tops such as inset marble or leather. Tables retaining untouched surfaces and genuine period patination command greater interest from collectors.
James Shoolbred·Shapland & Petter
The Accent Side Table Glossary
- Pembroke table
- A table with hinged drop leaves on either side, often fitted with a drawer. This form originated in the eighteenth century and served multiple domestic uses.
- Tripod table
- A small freestanding table supported by a pillar above three legs. Many examples feature a tilt-top mechanism for storage.
- Marquetry
- Decorative inlay work using strips of wood, metal, or shell to form patterns on a furniture surface. This technique appears frequently on French and English pieces.
- Specimen marble
- A composite surface made from various coloured marbles arranged in geometric or pictorial designs. These tops are typically mounted on nineteenth-century tables.
Accent Side Table: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an accent side table?
An accent side table is a small, moveable surface used beside seating or against walls. These pieces include lamp tables, wine tables, and occasional tables.
They appear in various woods and styles across the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries.
How were tripod tables used?
Tripod tables served as movable stands for tea, books, or lighting. Their single pillar allowed easy placement beside chairs.
Many examples include tilt mechanisms so the top could fold flat against the base when not in use.
How do I identify a Victorian table?
Victorian tables often utilise dense timbers like burr walnut, rosewood, or mahogany. Decoration frequently includes rich grain patterns, marquetry inlay, and carved pedestals.
Construction from the period between eighteen thirty and nineteen hundred typically employs solid secondary woods beneath polished veneers.
Are nest of tables antique?
A nest of tables contains multiple smaller tables that slide beneath one another. While some date to the early twentieth century, the form evolved from earlier occasional furniture.
They provide flexible surface space in principal rooms without occupying permanent floor area.