What is a quartetto table?

A quartetto table is specifically one of a set of four nesting tables designed to fit together under the largest top. Cabinet makers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries produced these sets to maximise floor space in smaller reception rooms.

How were nesting tables used?

Owners kept the stacked set tucked away in a corner or beside a sofa until guests arrived for tea or card games. Individual tables were then pulled out and placed around the room to hold cups, books, or writing materials.

What woods were used for these tables?

Mahogany served as the principal timber, often paired with boxwood inlay or delicate stringing lines. Cabinet makers also utilised rosewood, walnut, oak, and teak, frequently incorporating decorative veneers on the top surfaces.

How do I date a nest of tables?

Dating relies upon timber choices, construction methods, and stylistic revivals present in the legs and inlay. Edwardian and Victorian pieces display distinct turning styles and veneer thicknesses compared to later 1930s traditional interpretations.