Regency Rosewood Card Table
A regency rosewood card table brings a warm, dark grain and a clever folding top to a drawing room.
The Regency Rosewood Card Table
A regency rosewood card table is a folding piece designed for evening entertainment, shifting easily from a slim console against a wall to a wide surface for cards.
The pieces listed on this page span the Regency, Georgian and William IV periods, alongside the 18th and 19th centuries.
Beyond standard card tables, the selection includes games tables, tea tables, side tables and console tables.
Materials and Construction
Cabinet makers built these tables using dense rosewood, often applying veneers over a sturdy timber core to display rich grain patterns.
Many examples incorporate contrasting boxwood and satinwood stringing, alongside detailed brass inlay set directly into the wooden top.
Some tables rest on carved dolphin bases, pedestals with brass lion's paw feet, or carved centre panels.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for regency rosewood card table, calculated from the Sellingantiques database of over a million retail prices indexed since 2003. This retail price guide relies exclusively on Sellingantiques data; no external sources or auction records are used, so the figures do not describe the wider market.
Listings combine rosewood with satinwood, boxwood, and brass inlay across card, tea, and console forms.
Judging Quality
The value of a table rests on the depth of the rosewood grain and the crispness of any brass inlay or carved detail.
Superior execution shows in the stability of the folding mechanism and how seamlessly the top closes flush against the base.
William Trotter·Gillows
The Regency Rosewood Card Table Glossary
- Rosewood
- A heavy, dark timber valued for its distinct grain and rich natural oil content. It takes a high polish.
- Console table
- A table designed to stand flat against a wall, often serving a decorative purpose when not in use.
- Veneer
- A thin slice of figured wood applied over a secondary timber base to create a decorative surface.
- Inlay
- Pieces of contrasting wood or metal fitted into cavities carved into the surface design.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use a card table?
The hinged top swivels and folds open to reveal a baize-lined playing surface for evening games.
When closed, the table pushes flat against a wall to function as a slim console or side table.
How do I date a rosewood table?
Look to the overall silhouette, secondary timbers, and mounting details to place the piece within the Regency or William IV eras.
Turned pedestals, brass paw feet, and inlaid brass lines typically point to the early nineteenth century.
Can these tables hold drinks?
Rosewood surfaces tolerate light use, but moisture and heat risk marking the polished finish.
Coasters and careful placement protect the antique timber from rings and spills.
What is satinwood used for?
Satinwood provides a bright, pale contrast to the deep brown tones of rosewood.
Cabinet makers used it mainly for fine stringing and border details.