Table of Contents
How does a draw leaf table work?
The table with both draw leafs in the extended position. Notice the key element of this design is that as each leaf is extended, when it reaches the end of its travel, it snaps into a position that is exactly level with the actual table top, effectively extending the length of the top.
How does an antique drop leaf table work?
A drop-leaf table is one that has a mechanism allowing you to lower the outer leaves of the table. This allows for more room in a smaller space, since you can put the leaves down when you are not using the table or when you are seating fewer people around it.
How do you date a drop leaf table?
Straight Saw Marks – Like most antique furniture, you can date a piece by its saw marks. Leading up to the early 1800s, saw marks were straight. Anything after was cut with a circular saw. If a drop leaf table has a circular saw cut, it’s not that old, but might still be worth the restoration effort.
What is a hidden leaf table?
Also known as expandable tables, butterfly leaf tables are a helpful solution for solving space problems in a small dining room. Rather than settling for a smaller table, opt for a table that can be extended, allowing more seating when you need it.
What is a drawer leaf table?
Learn about Draw Leaf Table. A form of extension table, introduced during Elizabethan times and revived in the early 20th century. The leaf at each end of the rectangular table is attached to lopers or bearers. These tables often have a parquetry inlaid top.
What are drop leaf tables called?
drop-leaf table, table with one or two hinged leaves supported by articulated legs, arms, or brackets. An early 17th-century form is the gateleg table, which was followed by two later English forms—the Pembroke table and its more elongated version, the sofa table, which dates from about the 1790s.
What is a gateleg table used for?
Sturdy American gateleg tables were popular space-savers used in small homes since they could be placed against a wall when leaves were dropped but became dining tables when pulled away and extensions were lifted.
How can you tell a real Duncan Phyfe?
If your piece doesn’t have a signature, there are other ways to confirm you have a Duncan Phyfe original. The most obvious way is with reliable documentation or provenance. Finding a 175-to-215-year-old bill of lading for the piece would be ideal.
How can you tell if a table is antique?
Look carefully at the bottom, sides, and back of the drawer; if the wood shows nicks or cuts, it was probably cut with a plane, a spokeshave, or a drawknife. Straight saw marks also indicate an old piece. If the wood shows circular or arc-shaped marks, it was cut by a circular saw, not in use until about 1860.
How old are Gateleg tables?
gateleg table, type of table first used in England in the 16th century.
What is a Duncan Phyfe table worth?
Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854) was best known for the straight lines and classical look of his furniture carved in rich hard woods like mahogany and walnut. Values for an original Duncan Phyfe table range from $50,000 to $150,000.
Why are table extensions called Leafs?
By the 16th century, this sense of “leaf” was being applied to hinged sections of a table that hang down from the side but can be raised when more surface area is needed. What is the correct English word for a table extension.
What is self storing leaf?
How Do Self-Storing Leaves Work? The magic of self-storying leaves is really anything but magic. These tables are designed with a secret storage space underneath the center of the table. You simply unlock the mechanism holding the two ends of the table together and then pull the ends apart.
How do you fix a butterfly leaf table that won’t open?
Spray the entire hinge or hinges, the metal sliders and the attachment points for the center bar that allow it to swivel. Even if the table will not close after lubricating the parts, attempt to work the lube in by flexing the hinge and moving the sliders by pulling the table out and then pushing it back in.
When were draw leaf tables invented?
This design we believe was invented by the Italians in the mid-1600s and are still being produced today, which should tell you something about great design.
What is a refectory dining table?
A refectory table is a highly elongated table used originally for dining in monasteries during Medieval times. Typically, the table legs are supported by circumferential stretchers positioned very low to the floor.
How do you identify a table?
You can identify a table using various methods like checking dovetails, symmetric alignment checking, identifying labelling or any other tag, etc. These are convenient ways to check whether the furniture is antique or not.
How do I find the manufacturer of a table?
A look beneath tables and chairs or on the back of a china cabinet may reveal the maker of your dining room furniture set, as Antique Trader suggests. Look for a metal or paper tag, a sticker or a stamp listing a brand name. This might be found on the underside of the table or one of the chairs.
How do you sit at a gateleg table?
Gateleg tables are comfortable for those seated at the leaves, but less so for those at the ends. If you need to sit at the ends, make sure that the top is wide enough to allow your legs to fit comfortably between the legs of the table.
