Antique Easel Table
An antique easel table provides a secure desktop or tabletop display for photographs, mirrors, and books through a hinged rear prop.
Antique Easel Table
An antique easel table takes the form of desktop picture frames, vanity mirrors, reading stands, and small occasional tables designed to support items at an inclined angle. The selection includes Victorian and Edwardian sterling silver photo frames, alongside brass, pewter, and carved wood table mirrors dating from the nineteenth century into the 1930s.
Buyers encounter table-top reading stands and occasional tables alongside dressing table mirrors and strut clocks featuring hinged rear supports. These objects span periods from William IV and Victorian eras through Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and French Rococo Revival styles.
How they were made
Cabinetmakers utilised timber such as rosewood, oak, mahogany, kingwood, and lime wood, frequently employing detailed hand carving or turning for reading stands and frames. Metalworkers shaped sterling silver, brass, pewter, and gilt bronze through repoussé, piercing, and champlevé enamel techniques.
Makers integrated glass mirror plates and velvet backings into silver and metal frames, while mechanical adjustable reading stands relied on sturdy cast iron and wood joints.
Antique Easel Table Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for easel 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.
The inventory records diverse materials including sterling silver, brass, pewter, glass, velvet, rosewood, oak, and mahogany across multiple decades.
What varies in quality
The refinement of the casting and hand-chasing separates standard metal frames from exceptional pieces marked by silversmiths or firms. Superior carved wooden mirrors and reading stands display deep, crisp relief work rather than shallow machine milling.
Quality also rests in the integrity of the original backing materials, such as silk velvet and stamped leather, and the smooth operation of adjustable easel mechanisms.
William Comyns·Mappin Bros·Louis Auguste Moreau·Henry Matthews·Howell And James·Smiths Clockmakers
The Antique Easel Table Glossary
- Strut mirror
- A mirror supported by a hinged vertical prop attached to the reverse. This allows the glass to tilt at a comfortable viewing angle on a dressing table.
- Champlevé
- An enamelling technique where troughs are dug into a metal surface and filled with vitreous paste before firing. This method creates colourful decorative patterns on metal frames and clocks.
- Repoussé
- Metalworking technique where the artisan hammers a design from the reverse side to raise relief motifs on the front. It is frequently seen on Edwardian and Victorian silver frames.
- Occasional table
- A small, light table designed for flexible placement in a room. Some period examples incorporate reading stands and adjustable tops.
- Secessionist
- A stylistic movement related to Art Nouveau that favoured geometric lines and stylised floral motifs. It appears on European metalwork and silver from the early twentieth century.
Antique Easel Table: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date a silver easel frame?
Examine the hallmarks stamped on the silver border for city assay marks, date letters, and maker's initials. These punch marks provide the exact year of manufacture.
Compare the decorative style, such as Art Nouveau whiplash lines or Victorian embossed angels, with the date indicated by the assay office punch.
What is an easel reading stand used for?
These adjustable stands hold books, folios, or sheet music at an inclined angle for reading or display on a desk. The hinged mechanism allows the user to alter the viewing height.
Period examples often feature auxiliary ledges to keep heavy volumes from sliding forward during use.
Can I replace the mirror plate in an antique frame?
Original silvered glass often exhibits foxing and age spots that contribute to the historic character of the piece. Collectors generally prefer to preserve the original plate.
If replacement is necessary, select a thin glass plate that fits securely into the original rebate without straining the antique metal or wooden frame.
How do I care for velvet on a vintage strut back?
Vacuum the fabric gently with a soft brush attachment to remove dust without disturbing the pile. Keep the piece away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Avoid liquid cleaners, as moisture can weaken the antique cardboard and wood foundations supporting the textile backing.