Art Deco Coffee Table Set
An art deco coffee table set brings sharp geometric lines and rich timber into a sitting room, offering modular practicality.
Art Deco Coffee Table Set
An art deco coffee table set typically takes the form of a nest of tables, offering multiple surfaces that slide neatly together when floor space matters. These groupings appear across the nineteen twenties, thirties, and forties, often arranged in sets of three, four, or five tables.
The materials and construction point straight to British and continental workshops of the interwar decades. Buyers frequently encounter walnut veneer, burr walnut, and figured wood, sometimes paired with glass or brass details.
Round oak and teak variants also emerge, including carved examples alongside the smooth veneered surfaces typical of the period. This configuration provides both a central low table and supplementary surfaces for hospitality.
How they were made
Cabinet makers constructed these pieces using solid timber frames covered in fine veneers like walnut and satinwood to create striking grain patterns. The skillful application of veneer allowed workshops to achieve symmetrical patterns across the table tops.
Glass panels and brass mounts occasionally integrated into the design, adding contrast to the warm timber tones. Carved detailing also appears on certain teak pieces, showing varied handcraft alongside smooth polished surfaces.
Some adventurous nineteen twenties dining rooms welcomed elephants carved directly into teak coffee tables.
What varies in quality
Quality rests primarily on the choice and matching of veneers, with burr walnut and figured woods commanding attention for their complex grain patterns. The clever engineering of a multi-tiered nest, such as a Quintetto set of five tables, demonstrates superior cabinet making.
The reputation of the maker also lifts certain pieces above standard production, distinguishing signed or attributed workshop output from uncredited manufacturing. Proportions and the crispness of edge profiling further separate everyday items from exceptional examples.
Harry and Lou Epstein·Heal's
The Art Deco Coffee Table Set Glossary
- Nest of tables
- A set of graduated tables designed to fit one beneath another to save space. They pull out independently when extra surface area is needed.
- Quintetto
- A specialised nest comprising five tables arranged in a tight configuration. They slide together into a compact circular or oval footprint.
Art Deco Coffee Table Set: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an art deco coffee table set?
An art deco coffee table set usually comprises a nest of matching tables designed during the nineteen twenties, thirties, or forties. They provide versatile surface space that packs away compactly.
These sets utilise timbers like walnut, oak, and teak, often finished with striking geometric veneers characteristic of the period style.
How were nesting tables used?
These tables served primarily for entertaining, allowing hosts to distribute small surfaces around a room for drinks or books. When the gathering ended, the smaller tables slid neatly beneath the largest one.
This modular design suited the compact urban living spaces popular during the interwar decades.
How do I date an art deco set?
Dating relies on construction methods, timber choices, and stylistic traits recorded across the interwar period. Pieces from the nineteen twenties often feature simpler oak or carved teak forms, while thirties examples frequently showcase elaborate walnut veneers.
Makers' stamps and structural configurations also help place a set within its specific decade of manufacture.
Are all sets made from walnut?
While walnut and burr walnut veneer dominate the selection, other timbers appear in the records. Teak and oak examples also exist, sometimes featuring carved decoration rather than smooth polished veneers.
Glass and brass frequently complement these primary woods across different continental and British designs.