Sheraton Style Games Table
A sheraton style games table brings neoclassical grace to a room, offering foldover tops and delicate inlay that suit card parties or quiet corners.
Sheraton Style Games Table
A sheraton style games table is typically found in forms such as demi-lune card tables, tea tables, and foldover tables designed for domestic entertainment. The evidence shows these pieces appearing across the Georgian and Edwardian periods, alongside later revival iterations.
Buyers will most frequently encounter mahogany and satinwood examples on this page, often featuring inlaid details that reflect late 18th century taste. The selection spans George III originals through to Edwardian and Victorian Sheraton Revival interpretations.
Many of these tables function as versatile dual-purpose furniture, operating as side tables or console tables when folded and expanding for games or tea when opened.
Materials and construction
Cabinet makers utilised primary timbers such as mahogany, satinwood, rosewood, and amboyna, complemented by contrasting stringing and banding in boxwood and ebony. This combination provided the characteristic linear contrast associated with the style.
Surface decoration frequently incorporated satinwood inlay, marquetry, and painted details applied to turn-over leaf tops and demi-lune surfaces. Brass fittings and hinges were integrated to support the folding leaf mechanisms.
Listings span the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, uniting George III originals with Edwardian and Victorian Sheraton Revival interpretations.
Judging quality
Quality rests in the crispness of the cabinet work, the precision of the timber matching on the foldover top, and the subtlety of the inlay work. Finer examples display meticulous attention to proportion and timber selection across both primary surfaces and secondary woods.
The integration of the folding mechanism and the stability of the legs when supporting an opened leaf distinguish superior construction. Painted or marquetry detailing exhibits varying levels of hand-painted dexterity and depth.
Howard & Son's
The Sheraton Style Games Table Glossary
- Demi-lune
- A half-moon shape popular for table tops and commodes during the neoclassical period. This silhouette fits neatly against a wall when closed.
- Foldover
- A hinged table top that opens to double its surface area for dining, tea, or card games. A baize-lined interior often conceals the playing surface.
- Inlay
- A technique where contrasting pieces of wood, metal, or shell are inserted into a recessed surface to form a decorative pattern. Boxwood and ebony are common contrasting woods.
- Marquetry
- Elaborate veneer work arranged in pictorial or geometric designs across a furniture surface. It differs from simple inlay by covering the entire top.
- Sheraton Revival
- A late 19th and early 20th century movement recreating the light, neoclassical furniture forms of the late 18th century. Makers drew inspiration directly from Thomas Sheraton's published designs.
Sheraton Style Games Table: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sheraton style games table?
A sheraton style games table is a piece of furniture featuring a foldover top, straight tapered legs, and neoclassical inlay work. These tables were designed for domestic card playing and social gatherings.
Most examples date from the Georgian period through to the Edwardian Sheraton Revival era. They function as console or side tables when closed and expand to provide a playing surface.
How do I use a foldover card table?
To use the table, the hinged top swings open on pivot or gateleg supports to reveal a flat surface, often lined with baize or leather for playing cards. When not in use, the top folds flat against the base.
Placed against a wall as a console, the table requires minimal floor space. Opening it transforms the piece into a functional centre table for games or tea.
How do I distinguish original Georgian from revival pieces?
Distinguishing the periods involves examining timber patination, construction methods, and secondary woods used inside the frame. 18th century pieces show age-appropriate wear and traditional joinery.
Revival pieces, such as those from the Edwardian era or 1900, often employ machine-cut elements or standardised hardware while imitating earlier Sheraton aesthetics.
What woods are used in these tables?
Cabinet makers relied primarily on mahogany and satinwood, occasionally using rosewood and amboyna for rich colour and grain patterns. These timbers formed the main carcase and top.
Boxwood and ebony feature as contrasting stringing lines or geometric inlay. Painted decoration and marquetry also appear on satinwood surfaces.