What is a chippendale games table used for?

These tables provide a stable folding surface designed specifically for card games and social evenings in the home. When closed, they function as decorative console tables against a wall. Historically, they formed an essential part of Georgian parlour furniture, brought out when guests gathered to play cards or board games.

How do you open a foldover table?

The top leaf lifts and swings backward on specialised hinges to reveal the expanded playing surface inside. Concertina frames extend simultaneously to support the weight of the open leaf. Careful handling protects the internal wooden hinges and historical joints from excessive strain during operation.

How do you tell an eighteenth century table from a later copy?

Eighteenth-century examples display authentic period timber patination, hand-cut joinery marks, and specific structural wear patterns. Revival pieces from later periods often show uniform machine processing and different internal framing methods. Examining the secondary woods inside the frame helps confirm the manufacturing era and workshop origin.

What timber is used in these tables?

Mahogany serves as the primary structural and decorative wood across nearly all listed examples. Its rich grain and dense character support detailed carving work. Makers selected well-seasoned boards to prevent warping across the wide expanse of the folding top.