How do I use a gateleg table?

Keep both leaves folded down against the wall to utilise the table as a narrow console or side surface in compact rooms. Swing the supporting legs outward and lift the hinged flaps when you need a wide surface for dining or working.

How can I tell a seventeenth-century table from a later revival?

Examine the construction marks, tool patterns on the timber, and the nature of the joints used in the frame. Seventeenth-century originals show hand-carving and pegged joinery, whereas twentieth-century revivals often display machine tooling and more standardised components.

What wood was used for these tables?

Makers relied almost entirely on solid oak for both the structural framework and the surface leaves. Metal components such as iron or brass appear primarily on hinges, screws, and swivel mechanisms.

Where should I place a small gateleg table?

Position the piece in a hallway or living room with the leaves dropped to function as an occasional coffee or side table. Pull the table into the centre of a room and raise the leaves when extra surface space is required.