What is a georgian walnut tea table used for?

These tables served as functional surfaces for pouring and serving tea during the eighteenth century, featuring folding leaves or raised edges to secure porcelain. In modern rooms, they function as occasional tables, lamp stands, or display surfaces that highlight figured wood grain.

How do I tell an 18th-century table from a 1920s revival?

Original eighteenth-century pieces display natural timber ageing, hand-cut joinery marks, and specific secondary woods like oak inside the frame. Revival pieces from the 1920s often use cleaner, standardised machine-cut joints and uniform veneer selection typical of twentieth-century cabinet making.

What is the difference between a tea table and a card table?

Tea tables generally feature rectangular fold-over tops or raised tray rims designed to hold cups and saucers securely during social gatherings. Card tables incorporate folding leaves that open to reveal baize or wooden playing surfaces with corner wells for counters.

How should I care for walnut veneer?

Keep antique walnut away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent the underlying glues from drying and the thin veneers from lifting. Apply a light application of appropriate wax polish periodically to maintain the lustre of the timber.