Art Deco Tiered Side Table
An art deco tiered side table brings geometric elegance and stepped surfaces into a room, offering practical display space with distinct period character.
Art Deco Tiered Side Table
An art deco tiered side table displays the characteristic stepped levels and clean lines associated with twentieth-century design. These pieces serve as functional furniture for lamps, drinks or books while acting as strong focal points within a room.
The versions met most frequently on this page date from the nineteen-thirties, with occasional examples from the nineteen-twenties and nineteen-forties. Forms range from two-tier and three-tier occasional tables to coffee tables and nests of tables.
Originating from makers in England, France and Scandinavia, these tables appear in square, rectangular and octagonal shapes. They function as side tables, lamp tables and drinks trolleys, utilising vertical space through stacked shelves.
Materials and Construction
Makers utilised woods such as walnut, figured walnut, burr walnut, oak, limed oak, rosewood, satin birch, karelian birch and birds eye maple. These timbers were frequently applied as veneers over a sturdy wood base to highlight natural grain patterns.
Construction techniques combined traditional cabinet-making with modernist metal elements, incorporating brass and chrome details. Some pieces integrated solid marble tops or combined contrasting woods like walnut and maple within a single tiered structure.
Listings feature pieces from the nineteen-twenties, nineteen-thirties and nineteen-forties, constructed from walnut, oak, rosewood and birch.
Distinctions in Quality
Quality rests upon the choice of timber and the dexterity shown in selecting and matching veneer patterns across multiple tiers. Highly figured veneers and exotic woods like rosewood and birds eye maple distinguish finer examples from plain oak or standard timber constructions.
The integration of secondary materials such as chrome or brass accents, alongside solid construction details like multiple tiers and metamorphic functions, elevates the execution. Precision in the stepped architectural silhouette determines the success of the design.
Gilbert Rohde·Hille
The Art Deco Tiered Side Table Glossary
- Tiered
- Having successive levels or shelves arranged one above another. This construction maximises surface area whilst maintaining a compact footprint.
- Veneer
- A thin layer of choice wood applied over a base of cheaper timber. Figured varieties display decorative grain patterns.
- Occasional table
- A small, movable table designed for specific, intermittent use in a room. Examples include lamp tables and coffee tables.
- Ebonised
- Wood treated to resemble ebony through a staining or painting process. This finish provides a dark, contrasting element in modernist furniture.
- Metamorphic
- Furniture designed to transform into another form, such as a card table that unfolds. These pieces offer dual functionality.
Art Deco Tiered Side Table: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an art deco tiered side table?
An art deco tiered side table is a small surface featuring multiple stepped levels, dating predominantly from the nineteen-thirties. These tables combine geometric forms with decorative wood veneers.
They provide compact display areas for lamps and objects while introducing distinct modernist style to an interior space.
How were these tiered tables used?
These tables served primarily as occasional surfaces for holding drinks, books, smoking accessories or table lamps. Their multi-level design allowed users to display decorative items across separate heights.
In period interiors, they were positioned beside seating or in corners to maximise surface utility without occupying excessive floor space.
Which woods are common on these tables?
Walnut and figured walnut appear most frequently, often selected for their rich grain patterns. Oak, rosewood, maple and satin birch are also utilised across various pieces.
Some designs incorporate contrasting timbers or combine wood surfaces with metal elements like chrome and brass.
How do I style a tiered table?
A tiered side table benefits from asymmetrical arrangement, placing taller items on lower shelves and smaller objects on top. This highlights the architectural stepped structure of the piece.
Keep surrounding furniture simple to let the geometric lines and wood figures of the table remain the visual focus.