What is a traditional lowboy used for?

These pieces served historically as dressing tables, writing desks or small side tables in private chambers. Today they function flexibly in hallways or reception rooms as compact storage surfaces. Their shallow drawer configuration allows them to hold correspondence or small items without dominating a room.

How do I date a lowboy?

Dating relies on examining the timber species, construction methods and stylistic markers such as cabriole legs or brass hardware. Eighteenth-century pieces display authentic period joinery and timber patina. Revival pieces from around 1900 or the 1920s often mirror earlier Georgian or Queen Anne forms but show distinct modern tool marks upon closer inspection.

What woods were used for lowboys?

Cabinetmakers primarily worked with oak, mahogany and walnut during the 17th and 18th centuries. Finer examples occasionally feature decorative veneers such as burr walnut, satinwood or yew wood. Secondary woods like pine sometimes appear inside the drawer boxes or backing boards of these tables.

Are lowboys and side tables the same?

A lowboy is a specific type of side table defined by its inclusion of one or more rows of drawers beneath the top. Standard side tables may lack drawers entirely or feature simpler apron designs. Both forms share similar heights and compact footprints suited for placement against interior walls.

Home > Traditional Lowboy > Page 2

Traditional Lowboy

37 items · page 2 of 3

← Page 2 of 3 →

A traditional lowboy is a compact and useful piece of period furniture, typically featuring drawers beneath a flat top, designed to bring understated character to a room.