What is the difference between a lowboy and a side table?

A lowboy is specifically a low table equipped with one or more drawers, historically used for dressing or personal ablutions. Standard side tables encompass a broader range of occasional tables that may or may not feature drawers. While their silhouettes often overlap on the market, traditional lowboys maintain a distinctively low proportion designed to sit comfortably beneath a mirror.

How do I date an antique oak lowboy?

Dating relies on examining the construction methods, such as hand-cut dovetails, timber species used for secondary parts, and the style of the legs and mouldings. William and Mary pieces feature geometric drawer fronts and turned supports, whereas Georgian examples often showcase cabriole legs. Hardware placement and the type of wood screws or fixings also provide reliable clues to the period of manufacture.

Where were lowboy tables used in a historic home?

These tables originally served in bedrooms as dressing tables, holding basins, mirrors, and personal items. Over time, their convenient size allowed them to migrate into hallways, parlours, and dining rooms as serving surfaces. Today, their compact footprint makes them versatile additions to modern living spaces, serving as lamp tables or desk surfaces.

Are replacement brasses common on these tables?

Yes, original brass drop handles and drawer pulls frequently suffered damage or went out of fashion, leading to replacements during later periods. Many surviving pieces retain period-appropriate replacement hardware rather than their initial factory fittings. Inspectors look at the ghost marks left by earlier backplates to determine whether current handles occupy the original nail holes.