Where do you put a console table?

These tables find their traditional home against a hallway or drawing-room wall where floor space is at a premium. They frequently sit beneath a large wall mirror or a matching trumeau set. Because of their shallow depth, they occupy very little floor area while providing a formal surface for lamps, porcelain, or decorative objects.

How do I spot an 18th-century table?

Eighteenth-century pieces typically display hand-carved wooden frames showing tool marks and minor inconsistencies inherent to manual production. The gilt layers on these older tables often soften over time, revealing the warm red bole beneath the gold leaf. Construction methods also provide clues, as older frames utilise traditional joinery without modern metal screws or brackets.

Are marble tops always original?

Heavy marble surfaces suffer accidental breakage over centuries of use, meaning replacement tops do occur on antique bases. Inspecting the underside of the stone and the supporting wooden rails reveals whether the marble has been with the frame since its creation. A snug fit and matching age-related wear on both stone and wood suggest an original pairing.

What is the difference between console and side tables?

Console tables traditionally require wall attachment for absolute stability because they often rely on two prominent front legs. Side tables are fully freestanding structures with four independent legs capable of standing anywhere in a room. Despite this structural distinction, antique sellers frequently use the terms interchangeably based on general form and proportion.