What is a wooden specimen table?

A wooden specimen table is a piece of antique furniture built to display geological or botanical collections, often featuring specialised drawers, display cases, or inlaid timber tops. These tables combine functional furniture design with intricate decorative work, reflecting the nineteenth-century enthusiasm for collecting natural history specimens.

How do I date a specimen table?

Dating relies on examining the secondary timbers, construction methods, hardware, and stylistic influences such as Regency neoclassical lines or Victorian ornamentation. Changes in lock mechanisms, timber availability, and joinery techniques also provide reliable indicators of a piece's age and origin.

How were these tables used originally?

Original owners used these tables to sort, study, and display private collections of shells, minerals, fossils, and botanical samples. Many incorporated locked drawers or glass covers to protect delicate items while allowing guests to examine the collection easily.

How do I care for a specimen table?

Maintenance involves keeping the timber away from direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity to protect fragile wood veneers and antique polishes. Regular dusting with a soft, dry cloth preserves the finish without introducing moisture that could damage delicate inlay work.

Search 0

39,080 PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 79 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS

Sorted by

Per page

VISITOR LOGIN DEALER LOGIN

Saved

Wooden Specimen Table

79 ITEMS ADDED TODAY

Visitor Login (saved items)

Sort Order

Items Per Page

Wooden Specimen Table

21 items · page 2 of 2

← Page 2 of 2 →

A wooden specimen table displays the cabinetmaker's mastery through geometric timber veneers and polished display surfaces designed to hold natural curiosities.

Antique Victorian Table Top Jewellery Collectors Cabinet 19th C

19th century

Save

Antique Victorian Table Top Jewellery Collectors Cabinet 19th C

From Regent Antiques

£1,100

3+ MONTHS AGO

cupboards

19th century

Save

19th C Inlaid Table Top Cabinet

From Mytton Antiques - Jerrard Nares

£520

3+ MONTHS AGO

cupboards

C19th New Zealand Specimen Wood Table in the Manner of Anton Seuffert / William Norrie

19th century

Save

C19th New Zealand Specimen Wood Table in the Manner of Anton Seuffert / William Norrie

From Gary Wright Antiques Ltd

£1,950

3+ MONTHS AGO

tables

French Specimen Marquetry 8 Day Striking Clock

1900 - 1920

Save

French Specimen Marquetry 8 Day Striking Clock

From Heydays Antiques

£145

3+ MONTHS AGO

clocks

Fine Early C19th Regency Period Ladies 'Work-table' Inlaid with Specimen Wood Veneers.

19th century

Save

Fine Early C19th Regency Period Ladies 'Work-table' Inlaid with Specimen Wood Veneers.

From M Lees and Sons

£12,500

3+ MONTHS AGO

tables

← 1 2 →

65,875

Antiques For Sale

Antiques Approved Today

2,955

Antique Uploads This Month

439,883

Total Antiques Sold

Wooden Specimen Table

Antique Victorian Table Top Jewellery Collectors Cabinet 19th C

19th C Inlaid Table Top Cabinet

C19th New Zealand Specimen Wood Table in the Manner of Anton Seuffert / William Norrie

French Specimen Marquetry 8 Day Striking Clock

Fine Early C19th Regency Period Ladies 'Work-table' Inlaid with Specimen Wood Veneers.

Add keywords to the filter

Price

Era

Movements

Material

Origin

Stock Location

Freshness

Online Payments

Categories