Stacking Side Tables
Stacking side tables offer modular surface space when pulled apart and compact storage when nested together.
Identifying stacking side tables
When buyers search for stacking side tables, they are looking at sets of graduating tables designed to slide neatly one beneath another. The forms seen in these listings range from sets of three to sets of four tables, often referred to historically as quartetto tables.
The versions most commonly met on this page span the Edwardian period, the 1920s, and the 1930s. Styles stretch from Edwardian and Art Deco to Chinese Oriental and Georgian Revival pieces.
Object types on offer include nests of tables and nesting tables, frequently configured for use as coffee, lamp, wine, or sofa tables.
Materials and construction
These tables are constructed from timber and wood veneer, with specific listings recording mahogany, satinwood, boxwood, oak, walnut, rosewood, and hardwood. Leather also appears as a top surface material on select pieces.
Decorative surface techniques include marquetry inlay, which enhances the visual detail of the timber tops. Construction methods allow the individual tables to scale down in size so they fit consecutively beneath the largest top.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for stacking side tables, 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 feature mahogany, satinwood, boxwood, oak, walnut, rosewood, and hardwood across Edwardian, Art Deco, and Georgian Revival styles.
Assessing quality
Quality in these pieces is determined by the choice of timber and the precision of the cabinetwork. Finer examples utilise timbers such as satinwood, rosewood, or figured mahogany, paired with crisp marquetry inlay.
The sophistication of the design also separates the range, from simple functional nests to kidney-shaped tops or quartetto sets with maker attribution. Proportions that allow smooth nesting without rubbing indicate superior original manufacture.
Waring & Gillow·Gillows
The Stacking Side Tables Glossary
- Quartetto
- A matched set of four graduating tables designed to nest together. This historical term frequently appears in descriptions of nineteenth-century and Edwardian nests.
- Nesting tables
- A set of multiple tables built in proportional sizes to fit one inside another. They save floor space when stored.
- Marquetry inlay
- Decorative patterns formed by fitting contrasting pieces of wood veneer into a prepared surface. It is commonly found on Edwardian tabletops.
- Satinwood
- A durable, lustrous hardwood with a yellowish sheen used for fine furniture veneers and stringing. It provides a bright contrast against darker timbers such as mahogany.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are stacking side tables used for?
These tables provide flexible surface space in living areas. They can be separated to hold drinks or books and pushed together when floor space is needed.
Their modular design makes them suitable for smaller rooms where permanent furniture takes up too much space.
How do I identify an Edwardian nest?
Edwardian nests often feature light mahogany timbers combined with delicate marquetry inlay. The legs tend to be slender and straight or gently tapered.
They frequently come in sets of three or four graduating tables designed to slide neatly beneath the primary top.
What is a quartetto table set?
A quartetto set consists of four tables that scale down in size to stack together as one unit. This nineteenth-century and Edwardian form allows multiple surfaces to occupy the footprint of a single table.
Such sets often incorporate premium veneers like satinwood or walnut.
How do Art Deco nests differ?
Art Deco nests from the 1930s lean towards clean geometric lines and smooth wood veneers. They typically avoid the floral marquetry inlay seen on earlier Edwardian examples.
The focus rests on the natural grain of the hardwood and streamlined construction.