Hemswell Antique Centres

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Antique tables: A buyer’s guide

Antique Table Close Up

 

From portable pieces to hefty dining tables, antique tables are wildly varied in style, quality, colour and size. Which also means they come with a range of price tags. Whatever your budget you’ll be able to find antique tables for sale for good value at Hemswell - the largest antiques centre in Europe. But first, you’ll want a good idea of what you’re looking for. How many would you like to be seated around your table, would be a good place to start. We have many tables in stock from ones that seat 4 places up to 20-seater tables. 

Get to know your antique tables with our handy guide.

Antique dining tables

Prepare for prices to fluctuate massively in this department. While you can obtain Victorian reproduction pieces for three or four hundred pounds, original 17th-century antique dining tables might set you back thousands. Some of the most sought-after dining tables are antique refectory tables in their original 17th and 18th-century condition. An impressive piece values at up to £10,000 (sometimes more) and even humble examples can sell for £1,000-£3,000. Antique dining tables for sale should always be carefully inspected before buying in order to spot alterations. There are lots of pieces out there with table tops that don’t match to their undercarriages. It’s impossible to fake a 200-year-old patina, but you must take a close look - viewing photographs on the internet simply cannot show you everything. Take some time to browse our tables online. If there is one of interest to you please do not hesitate to contact us, as we may be able to reserve it for 24 hours, giving you time to visit the centres and view it.

Antique occasional tables

From antique sewing tables to those solely designed for playing games. Antique occasional tables were practical, portable pieces of furniture that could be used for a variety of purposes. However, sometimes special tables were built for specific purposes, such as antique chess tables and those used for card games. Antique card tables in particular, which were introduced in the late 17th century, are good pieces to buy for a spectrum of budgets - prices range from as low as £200 to as much as £4,000.

Antique nest of tables

These handy and decorative pieces are often found stacked on top of each other in different sizes ranging from small to large. An antique nest of tables from the Georgian period crafted from mahogany, in decent original condition, can value up to £3,000 at auction. Find a rarer satinwood nest and you can double the price.

Antique coffee tables

The coffee table was a 20th-century invention, so many ‘antique’ coffee tables may be modified and reduced in height. However, 18th-century sofa tables are probably the most useful for the purpose we use a coffee table for today. Originally designed for reading, writing or drawing while on the sofa, these antique tables often have a central pedestal and small drawers. Sheraton-designed antique tables for sale of this kind can sell for between £3,000 to £8,000; even later copies can fetch up to £2,000. It’s very on trend in the interior design world to re-purpose items into coffee tables such as blanket boxes and chests.

Antique side tables

Everyone needs a table to rest their wine on - well the Victorians certainly did. Antique side tables from the early 18th century were often tripod tables, designed for serving supper or decanters. The most desirable antique tables of this sort were crafted by cabinet-maker John Channon - these now sell for a whopping £30,000-£40,000. Even a later copy can value at up to £15,000. On the lower end of the budget, plainer tripod antique tables that haven’t been restored can fetch about £2,000. Be aware that these are rare and even the tiniest sign of repair work can slash the price by half.

Antique console tables

With one plain, straight side that sits against a wall, antique console tables were especially good for holding large, ornate mirrors that sat between windows in the Victorian age. They may also be marketed as side tables or antique lamp tables, originally for serving food or displaying lamps, respectively.

Antique dropleaf tables

Antique dropleaf tables were often used for dining - always check the hinges on there to make sure they’re original. Dropleaf dining tables often have round, oval or rectangular side flaps and you can sell an early mahogany piece for between £400 to £2,000.

Where to find antique tables for sale

The considerations we take browsing antique tables for sale are just as crucial today as they were two centuries ago - especially when it comes to colour and size. Make sure you examine pieces at your own leisure with a delightful day out to Hemswell Antiques Centres. Our four fascinating buildings stock everything from antique kitchen tables to decorative drop-leaf examples.

Wander over to our second building to discover a huge range of antique pine tables, with everything from old butchers blocks to antique farmhouse dining tables for sale. These are pieces to be used as well as admired - anyone with a love of antiques will enjoy exploring countless rooms filled with joyful examples of furniture from the past.

 

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