What is a tray table?

A tray table combines a removable or fixed decorative tray top with a supporting stand, allowing the surface to function as a low table. Many examples feature papier-mâché or painted tole trays dating from the Regency period placed upon custom stands.

How do I identify Chinoiserie decoration?

Chinoiserie pieces display painted or lacquered Asian-inspired motifs, often rendered in gold against a dark black background. These designs frequently appear on nests of tables, occasional tables, and papier-mâché trays from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

What is a nest of tables?

A nest of tables consists of a set of graduated tables designed to slide neatly underneath one another to save floor space. They appear in various materials including lacquer, kingwood, and gilt-painted finishes.

Are marble tops original to these tables?

Marble and slate tops were commonly utilised on nineteenth and early twentieth-century occasional and coffee tables to provide a durable, decorative surface. They are frequently paired with giltwood, painted, or wrought iron frames.