How many people can sit at these tables?

Capacities scale from ten-seat Edwardian versions up to massive thirty-seater boardroom pieces and eighteen-foot refectory formats. Length determines the seating capability, often augmented by multiple leaves. Buyers should measure dining spaces carefully to accommodate both the closed length and extended leaf positions alongside chair clearance.

What is the difference between refectory and extending tables?

Refectory tables maintain a fixed, substantial length supported by stretcher frames, rooted in monastic and hall traditions. Extending tables incorporate draw-leaves or drop-in sections to alter the surface area. Both formats appear across Victorian and Edwardian periods, utilising solid oak and pollard oak timber.

How do I care for a large oak surface?

Solid timber requires protection from direct heat sources and rapid humidity shifts to prevent movement in the wood. Routine maintenance involves dusting with a dry cloth and occasionally feeding the grain with traditional wax. Avoid commercial silicone sprays which build up residue on period finishes and carved details.

How do I identify revival styles?

Elizabethan, Jacobean and Gothic revival pieces incorporate characteristic architectural motifs, heavy cup-and-cover turnings or carved strapwork executed during the 19th and early 20th centuries. These items emulate earlier 17th Century originals while employing later construction techniques. Examining the underside and fixing methods reveals the true period of manufacture rather than the historical style referenced.