What is an irish games table?

An irish games table is a piece of antique furniture with a folding or rotating top designed for pastimes like cards and chess. These tables frequently double as tea tables or side tables when closed, combining decorative presence with practical function.

How do you date an irish games table?

Dating relies on stylistic clues such as cabriole legs for earlier pieces and straight tapered legs for later Georgian or Victorian variants. Timber choice also helps, as walnut and early mahogany give way to burr walnut and alternative finishes in the nineteenth century.

How were these tables used?

Families used them in the evening for card games, chess, and social gatherings where entertainment took place in the parlour. During the day, the folded top allowed the furniture to function as a regular tea table or side console against the wall.

What woods were used?

Makers relied heavily on mahogany and walnut, occasionally incorporating burr walnut for decorative grain pattern. Details often included satinwood inlay and contrasting veneers to frame the edges and surfaces.