How do tilt-top tables work?

Tilt-top tables utilise a central pivot or birdcage mechanism beneath the surface that allows the top to swivel into a vertical position. This design enabled tables to be stored out of the way against room perimeters when floor space was needed.

What woods are typical for these tables?

Mahogany, oak, and rosewood form the primary timbers, often supplemented by Cuban mahogany and fruitwood in country pieces. Surface enrichment comes from satinwood inlay, boxwood stringing, and flame mahogany veneer.

How do I distinguish georgian from later styles?

Georgian pieces date from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, displaying construction methods and timber ageing typical of that period. Later pieces from the Edwardian era or 1930s are marked as georgian style or chippendale style revivals.