Art Deco J Nest
These art deco j nest tables offer clever space-saving design in striking geometric forms that anchor a period room.
Art Deco J Nest
An art deco j nest brings together graduated tables that slide neatly beneath the largest member to save floor space. These practical sets appear in configurations ranging from three to five pieces, often featuring round or coffee table formats.
The pieces emerge predominantly from the 1930 period, though examples stretch from 1920 to 1940 in English and French origins. Buyers encounter designs spanning standard nests to specialised forms like the quintetto.
Makers such as Harry and Lou Epstein, the Hille Furniture Company, and Heal's produced notable examples of this form. Construction varies from simple sets to elaborate multi-tiered arrangements designed for versatile living spaces.
Materials and construction
Cabinet makers utilised rich timbers including walnut, burr walnut, birds eye maple, and Indian rosewood. Veneers were carefully selected to display striking grain patterns across the primary surfaces.
Surfaces often incorporate glass panels alongside figured wood and satinwood veneer, while some pieces feature carved details such as elephants. Teak and oak also appear among the material selections recorded in the period.
What separates the tiers of quality
The calibre of timber selection and veneer matching dictates the visual impact of each set. Rich burr walnut and birds eye maple display superior grain movement compared to plain finishes.
Attribution to prominent firms such as Hille or the Epsteins elevates a piece through documented craftsmanship and refined proportions. The complexity of the nest configuration, such as five-tier sets or specialised j shapes, also influences distinction.
Harry and Lou Epstein·The Hille Furniture Company·Heal's
The Art Deco J Nest Glossary
- Nest of tables
- A set of graduated tables designed to fit one beneath another for compact storage. This clever arrangement maximises floor space when individual tables are not in use.
- Burr walnut
- A prized timber harvested from growth excrescences on walnut trees, showing swirling, knotted grain patterns. Cabinet makers prized this wood for its decorative surface appeal.
- Birds eye maple
- Timber featuring small, circular markings resembling birds eyes scattered across the grain. This figured wood provides a pale, distinctive contrast in period furniture.
- Quintetto
- A specific term used for a nest comprising five interlocking tables arranged around a central piece. This complex configuration represents an advanced form of the standard nesting design.
Art Deco J Nest: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify an art deco j nest?
Look for the characteristic letter j shape in the configuration of the nesting surfaces, combined with typical 1930s geometric lines and figured veneers.
These sets often originate from notable English workshops and feature graduated tiers designed to slide compactly together.
What woods were used for these tables?
Makers predominantly worked with walnut, burr walnut, and birds eye maple to create striking visual patterns on the table tops.
Additional materials include Indian rosewood, satinwood veneer, teak, oak, and glass panels depending on the specific design and origin.
How many tables are in a set?
Sets commonly comprise three, four, or five tables that fit neatly beneath the primary surface.
Some elaborate configurations include round formats or specialised quintetto arrangements with multiple graduated tiers.
Where were these nesting tables made?
The recorded pieces originate primarily from English makers and designers active during the interwar period.
French workshops also produced distinct variations of the form during the 1940s.