Rich Mahogany Games Table
A rich mahogany games table brings ingenious folding tops and warm timber to the room.
Rich Mahogany Games Table
A rich mahogany games table is a piece of furniture designed for leisure, appearing primarily in Georgian, George II, George III, Regency, and Sheraton styles across the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These tables often function as fold-over card tables or tea tables, adapting to different uses within the home.
The versions most commonly met on this page span the Georgian and nineteenth-century periods, showcasing the versatility of timber forms like console and card tables alongside occasional tables. Each piece reflects the social habits of its era, combining a compact footprint with a top that opens when required.
How they were made
Cabinet makers constructed these pieces using solid mahogany and flame mahogany veneer, often enhancing the surfaces with satinwood inlay and boxwood details. The choice of timber provides the characteristic deep colour and prominent grain associated with the period.
Brass fittings and hinges were utilised to secure the folding sections and support the weight of the pivoting tops. These metal elements were integrated directly into the wooden framework to ensure smooth operation.
Rich Mahogany Games Table Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for rich mahogany games table among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings span the Georgian, eighteenth-century, and nineteenth-century periods, utilising mahogany, brass, flame mahogany veneer, boxwood, and satinwood inlay.
What varies in quality
The degree of refinement in the timber preparation and veneer selection largely separates individual examples. Pieces featuring carefully matched flame mahogany veneer and precise boxwood or satinwood inlay demonstrate greater attention from the maker.
The execution of the folding mechanism and the integration of brass components also distinguish the standard of production. Superior examples maintain stability and alignment whether the top is closed as a side table or opened for play.
The Rich Mahogany Games Table Glossary
- Games table
- A piece of furniture with a top designed to fold or lift for pastimes such as cards. These objects frequently double as tea tables.
- Flame mahogany veneer
- A thin slice of wood cut from the fork of a mahogany tree to produce a rippling, flame-like pattern. This material is applied to the primary surfaces for decorative effect.
- Demi-lune card table
- A half-circle table that opens out to form a full circle for card games. The Sheraton style often utilises this shape.
- Satinwood inlay
- A contrasting light yellowish wood inserted into recesses within the darker mahogany surface. This technique creates geometric or floral borders.
Rich Mahogany Games Table: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rich mahogany games table?
A rich mahogany games table is an antique wooden furniture piece designed with a folding top for indoor pastimes.
These objects date from the Georgian and nineteenth-century periods and frequently double as tea or console tables.
How were these tables used?
Owners used them as side tables or console tables during the day to display decorative items.
When evening arrived, the top unfolded to reveal a surface prepared for card games or social gatherings.
How do I tell periods apart?
Identifying the period relies on observing stylistic details such as the presence of Sheraton satinwood inlay or George II forms.
Eighteenth-century examples often display distinct cabinet-making conventions compared to nineteenth-century pieces.
What woods are used?
The primary timber is mahogany, often utilised alongside flame mahogany veneer for decorative impact.
Details are frequently accented with boxwood and satinwood inlay.