What is a concertina action table?

A concertina action table uses an expanding frame that pulls outward as the top unfolds, allowing the rear legs to move with the structure. This design provides structural support to all four corners when the table is open for play. Such mechanisms indicate higher standards of cabinet-making, frequently found on eighteenth-century and Georgian pieces designed to bear weight evenly across the extended surface.

How do I use a games table today?

A games table functions effectively as a hall console or side table when folded shut against a wall. Opening the top transforms the piece into a card table, writing desk, or display surface for gatherings. The folding design makes these pieces adaptable for smaller rooms where permanent large tables occupy too much floor space.

What woods were used for these tables?

Makers constructed these pieces predominantly using mahogany and rosewood, alongside walnut, burr walnut, satinwood, and oak. Finer examples incorporate decorative veneers and contrasting inlay materials like brass. The choice of timber typically reflects the prevailing style of the period, from mid-eighteenth-century mahogany to nineteenth-century rosewood and walnut.

How do I identify a Georgian games table?

Georgian games tables often feature solid mahogany construction with characteristic detailing such as carved cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet, or crisp edge moulding. The proportions tend to remain classical and restrained. Examining the interior frame, secondary woods, and hinge construction helps verify the period alongside the exterior stylistic markers.