How do I use a foldover tea table?

A foldover tea table stands against a wall with its top folded flat in half to save space. When tea was served, the top unfolded and swung out to rest on a gateleg or pivoting frame. Today, you can use them in living rooms or hallways as console surfaces that double in size when entertaining or displaying objects.

How can I tell a Georgian table from an Edwardian revival?

Georgian tables from the eighteenth century exhibit the structural joinery, timber ageing, and hand-carved details typical of their original period of manufacture. Edwardian revivals reproduce these classic styles, such as Hepplewhite or Sheraton designs, using early twentieth-century workshop methods. Examining the secondary woods, interior framing, and wear patterns helps clarify the actual age of the piece.

What is a concertina action table?

A concertina action table utilises an expandable wooden frame that stretches outwards when the foldover top is lifted. This lets the frame support the weight of the open leaf evenly across all four legs. It represents a more complex form of construction found on higher quality eighteenth-century card and games tables.