Antique Ottoman Table
An antique ottoman table brings rich joinery, carved frames and folding Damascus surfaces into a room.
Antique Ottoman Table
When you search for an antique ottoman table, you encounter a varied group of seating, low surfaces and folding occasional pieces that span the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The selection encompasses sturdy Victorian walnut and mahogany stools alongside intricately inlaid octagonal side tables and folding Damascus pieces from the Middle East.
Stools and footstools dominate the offerings, often serving double duty as coffee tables or window seats, while side tables and games tables provide alternative forms of low furniture. Pieces range from plain mahogany frames with cabriole legs to heavily carved Moorish and Anglo-Indian designs incorporating complex geometric patterns.
How they were made
Cabinetmakers utilised hardwoods such as walnut, mahogany, rosewood and beech to construct the underlying frames and tables, employing traditional joinery and carved details. Frames frequently support upholstered pads finished in leather, fabric or embroidered fragments, while occasional tables display intricate bone and mother-of-pearl inlay set into wood.
Makers of regional pieces constructed folding octagonal and hexagonal frames that rely on precise interlocking slats without metal hinges. Mixed metal trays and engraved surfaces complement these wooden structures, alongside specialised turning seen in bobbin leg stools.
Listings feature walnut, mahogany and rosewood alongside mother-of-pearl, bone and brass materials.
What varies in quality
The standard of a piece rests upon the depth of the carving, the precision of the joinery and the integrity of the timber selection. Solid walnut or rosewood framing and intricate, tight bone or mother-of-pearl inlay distinguish finer examples from simpler production.
The condition of the upholstery, the crispness of turned legs and the retention of original hand-dyed leather or embroidery fragments further separate standard items from exceptional pieces.
Liberty and Co
The Antique Ottoman Table Glossary
- Cabriole leg
- A furniture leg that curves outward at the knee and tapers inward to an ankle, popular on Victorian and revival stools.
- Damascus table
- A folding octagonal or hexagonal occasional table originating from the Middle East, characterised by complex geometric inlay.
- Mother-of-pearl
- The iridescent inner layer of shells, utilised by craftsmen to create intricate floral or geometric patterns on wooden tabletops.
- Bobbin leg
- A furniture support turned on a lathe to resemble a string of rounded bobbins, characteristic of mid nineteenth century design.
- Cross stretcher
- Horizontal rails connecting the legs of a table or stool near the base to provide additional structural stability.
Antique Ottoman Table: Frequently Asked Questions
How were these tables used?
Original uses varied widely depending on the specific form, from card playing on inlaid games tables to seating in dressing rooms and parlours. Folding wooden tables provided portable surfaces for lamps and ornamental objects.
Today, many larger stools and low tables find new purpose as coffee tables or window seats in modern interiors.
How do I identify the period?
Dating relies on timber choice, leg style and decorative techniques characteristic of specific eras, such as heavy Victorian walnut carving or Art Deco maple frames. Stylistic revivals like Moorish or Queen Anne often incorporate nineteenth or twentieth century construction methods.
Examining the underside, joinery and materials helps distinguish mid nineteenth century examples from later twentieth century reproductions.
How do I care for inlaid wooden tables?
Inlaid surfaces require gentle cleaning with a dry cloth to prevent moisture from damaging delicate bone and mother-of-pearl elements set into the wood. Avoiding direct sunlight and extreme temperature fluctuations preserves the natural timber and prevents warping.
Regular polishing with appropriate wax maintains the finish of walnut, rosewood and mahogany frames without harming older patinas.