How do I use a tilt top table?

Release the brass catch or wooden toggle underneath the surface to pivot the top into a vertical position. This allows the table to be pushed neatly against a perimeter wall when the room needs floor space. Lower the top back to the horizontal position and secure the latch before placing items on the surface. Ensure the mechanism locks firmly to prevent accidental movement during use.

A loo table is a nineteenth-century multi-purpose table sized for entertaining, dining, or playing card games such as loo. They feature large circular or oval tops supported by heavy carved pedestals. Because these tables measure larger than standard wine or lamp tables, their tilting mechanism was essential for clearing the centre of the drawing room between gatherings.

How can I tell the period?

Examine the secondary timbers, the style of carving on the pedestal, and the specific decorative techniques applied to the surface. Earlier Regency and William IV pieces often display clean mahogany lines, while high Victorian examples favour burr walnut, heavy carved quadrapod bases, and marquetry. Construction methods inside the pedestal pivot box also help date the piece, as metal catches evolved from simple wooden pins and brass thumbscrews during the nineteenth century.

Can these tables hold heavy items?

Solid mahogany and rosewood examples provide sturdy support for daily dining and heavy lamps, provided the central column and feet remain tightly joined. Tripod wine tables suit lighter items like glasses and books rather than heavy porcelain. Check that the pivot block beneath the top makes full, flush contact with the top of the pedestal column to distribute weight evenly.