What is a fold over table used for?

These pieces functioned historically as tea tables for social gatherings or as card and games tables for evening entertainment. Today, they serve as versatile console tables against a hallway or living room wall that open up when extra surface area is needed.

How do I tell a tea table from a card table?

Tea tables typically feature plain wooden interiors designed to hold porcelain and tea equipment during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Card tables generally reveal lined baize interiors inside the folding leaf, often accompanied by corner indents for counters or candlesticks.

How do I care for rosewood and mahogany surfaces?

Keep these timbers away from direct sunlight and excessive heat sources to prevent the wood veneers from drying out or splitting. Dust gently with a dry cloth and apply occasional appropriate wax polish to maintain the sheen of the polish.

How do I identify a Regency period table?

Regency pieces often incorporate rosewood veneers paired with contrasting brass inlay, lyre supports, or carved pedestal bases influenced by classical motifs. They date from the early nineteenth century and frequently utilise concertina or swing-leg mechanisms to support the folded top.