What were turned stem pedestal tables used for?

These tables served flexible roles in period rooms, often placed beside chairs to hold portable items like lamps, candles, books or cups of wine. Their compact footprint made them easy to move around a parlour or drawing room as needed. Because many examples feature tilt-top mechanisms, they could also be folded flat and stored against the perimeter of a room when floor space was required for other activities.

How do I tell an 18th-century table from a Victorian one?

Eighteenth-century examples, particularly those from the George III period, often exhibit finer timber selection such as dense mahogany with slender turned stems and restrained cabriole or straight tripod legs. Construction details like hand-cut fixings and solid timber tops help identify these earlier pieces. Victorian and later nineteenth-century pieces can introduce heavier proportions, alternative woods like satin birch or rosewood, and sometimes later decorative additions such as penwork or surface carving.

How should I care for a vintage pedestal table?

Keep wooden surfaces away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity changes to prevent the timber top from warping or splitting along the grain. Regular dusting with a dry cloth maintains the polish without building up unnecessary residues. Take care when operating tilt-top mechanisms if the table includes one, supporting the top firmly with both hands so the hinge mechanism does not bear sudden strain.

Why do some tables have tilting tops?

Tilting tops were a practical space-saving invention in period homes where rooms served multiple functions throughout the day and evening. By pivoting the surface upright, owners could tuck the table completely out of the way against a wall. This mechanism also showcased the joinery skills of the cabinet maker, relying on a balanced catch block or birdcage pivot beneath the top to hold the surface steady in both horizontal and vertical positions.