George II Style Table
A george ii style table brings robust proportions and rich timber grain to a room, carrying the bold lines of mid-eighteenth-century design into modern spaces.
George II Style Table
A george ii style table encompasses a range of formal and domestic furniture forms built to echo the confident architecture of the 1700s. The evidence shows these pieces appearing in period originals from the eighteenth century alongside revival interpretations made during the Victorian era and the early twentieth century.
Card tables, side tables, games tables, and desks dominate the selection, often featuring folding leaves or concertina actions designed for multi-use living. Walnut and mahogany provide the primary timber vocabulary, occasionally topped with marble or accented with intricate wood inlay.
Buyers seeking these forms will encounter both genuine Georgian pieces and later nineteenth- and twentieth-century revivals that replicate the sturdy cabriole legs and carved shell motifs typical of the aesthetic.
Materials and construction
Makers relied heavily on dense hardwoods like mahogany and figured walnut, often utilising feather banding and intricate wood inlay to create decorative surface patterns on tabletops and drawer fronts. Structural strength came from careful joinery, allowing complex folding mechanisms on card tables and stable tripod bases on occasional tables.
Surface treatments included brass hardware such as drop handles and escutcheons, while certain grander side and console tables incorporated heavy marble tops and gilded wood frames.
Revival pieces from later decades maintained these traditional timber choices, matching the cabinet-making standards of the original eighteenth-century workshops.
George II Style Table Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for george ii style table among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings demonstrate that mahogany and walnut remain the dominant timbers across both eighteenth-century originals and later revival pieces.
Distinctions in quality
The degree of hand-carving on details such as cabriole knees, ball-and-claw feet, and aprons separates standard production from superior examples. Timber selection also drives value, with highly figured walnut or rich, dense mahogany showing deeper grain movement and careful matching across surfaces.
The integrity of mechanical elements - such as concertina table actions or smooth drawer runners - reflects the precision applied during construction, whether by an eighteenth-century cabinet-maker or a later revival workshop.
Mappin & Webb·Giles Grendey
The George II Style Table Glossary
- Cabriole leg
- A furniture leg that curves out in a convex arc and tapers inward in a concave arc, mimicking the shape of an animal's leg. This form is common on eighteenth-century seating and tables.
- Concertina action
- An expanding table frame that opens like a musical bellows to support a fold-over top. It provides a stable surface when extended.
- Lowboy
- A small dressing table or side table featuring a low chest of drawers set on four legs. These typically date to the eighteenth century or later revivals.
- Feather banding
- A decorative inlay technique using veneer strips cut diagonally and laid in a V-shape border around drawer fronts or tabletops. It creates a subtle, feathered pattern in the grain.
- Tripod table
- A small freestanding table supported by a central pillar resting on three spreading feet. Many examples feature a birdcage mechanism allowing the top to tilt.
George II Style Table: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I spot an 18th-century original?
Original pieces show period construction methods, such as hand-cut dovetails and timber shrinkage appropriate to age. Secondary woods used in internal framing often match the domestic timbers of the Georgian era.
Revival pieces built in the Victorian period or the twentieth century generally display more uniform machine sawing and cleaner internal surfaces while still copying the classic George II proportions.
Were these tables meant for dining?
While large dining tables exist, many forms serve specific social functions such as card playing, tea drinking, or writing. Fold-over games tables and concertina card tables were designed to save space when not in use.
Side tables and serving tables stood against walls in formal reception rooms, holding decorative items or assisting with hospitality.
How do I care for walnut and mahogany?
Keep these timber surfaces away from direct sunlight and steady heat sources to prevent the wood from drying out or splitting. Regular dusting with a soft, dry cloth preserves the finish without building up residue.
Occasional application of appropriate wax polish maintains the natural sheen of figured walnut and dense mahogany.
What is a concertina action?
A concertina action is an ingenious frame mechanism that expands outward like an accordion when a table top unfolds. It provides four supportive corners for a heavy wooden leaf without blocking legroom.
This engineering is frequently found on quality card and tea tables from the Georgian period and later revivals.