What periods do these tables come from?

The pieces span multiple eras, including Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and early twentieth-century decades like the 1920s and 1930s. Construction styles and timber treatments reflect the prevailing design preferences of each specific era. Earlier examples from the Georgian period emphasise classical proportions, while Victorian and Edwardian items often introduce heavier turned elements or practical multi-tier configurations.

How do I identify a campaign table?

Campaign tables are characterised by portable, knock-down, or folding designs originally intended for military officers on the move. They typically incorporate brass corners, recessed handles, and folding frames. Timbers like beech and mahogany were chosen for resilience, allowing the furniture to be packed compactly without sustaining damage during transit.

Where were side tables placed in a home?

Side tables served flexible functions in hallways, reception rooms, and parlours, holding lamps, decorative objects, or writing materials. Their compact footprints made them easy to tuck against walls or beside seating. Over time, variations like the lowboy or occasional table adapted these surfaces for specific domestic tasks in different rooms.

What is a nest of tables used for?

A nest of tables provides multiple surfaces that deploy outward when guests require extra space for drinks or books. When not in use, the smaller tables slide underneath the largest one to save floor space. Edwardian makers refined these sets into matched groupings, often incorporating inlaid wood or Quartetto arrangements of four tables.