How do you use a tilt table?

To use the table, you release a brass catch beneath the top, allowing the surface to pivot upward on its block and pivot pin. When lowered flat, the catch locks the top securely into place for daily use. In period interiors, these tables spent much of their time tilted against the perimeter of the room, functioning almost like decorative screens until needed.

What woods were used for these tables?

Cabinet makers relied heavily on solid mahogany and rosewood for their durability and rich natural colour. They also employed exotic veneers such as satinwood, amboyna, and burr elm to create striking decorative patterns on the tops. Inlays of brass, ebony, and boxwood frequently highlighted the outer edges and borders of the better examples.

How can you tell a Regency piece from later revivals?

Original period pieces display construction methods, timber ageing, and hardware consistent with the early nineteenth century. Secondary woods like oak or pine inside the framework match the expected practices of Georgian and Regency workshops. Later revival pieces from the Edwardian or Victorian eras often feature different internal joinery, heavier proportions, or machine-cut components.