What is a quadform base card table?

It is a folding timber table featuring a four-sided pedestal foundation, built during the Georgian, Regency, and Victorian eras. These pieces served a dual purpose in the home, functioning as compact side furniture before opening up for parlour games and social evenings.

How do you open the top?

The upper leaf pivots on a central hinge and rotates ninety degrees to rest securely across the base frame. This reveals a flat surface, often lined with baize or finished in polished wood, designed to support cards and gaming accessories.

What woods were used?

Cabinet makers relied primarily on rich dark timbers such as rosewood and mahogany for their strength and grain pattern. Burr yew and brass accents appear on specific pieces, adding visual contrast to the polished surfaces.

How do I date these tables?

Dating relies on stylistic markers such as the transition from carved Regency pedestal supports to heavier William IV and Victorian proportions. Details like brass inlay and the specific configuration of the quadform base also point to the decade of manufacture.