As the clocks go back, thoughts turn to the forthcoming festive season when we focus on entertaining family and friends. Here, we look at entertaining in style with an antique dining table.
Antique dining table sizes
For 51 weeks of the year, our lifestyles dictate that we eat on the run or, dare we say it, sat in front of our favourite box set! So, at Christmas, we can really concentrate on making our main meals traditional family affairs, served on beautifully presented dining tables. Of course, modern homes can’t always accommodate the proportions of an antique dining table with antique chairs but there are mid-century dining tables from iconic manufacturers such as Ercol that are more modestly sized, with many featuring drop leaves. If you are looking for a smaller table, read Space saving dining tables for small spaces big on character for lots of inspiration.
Where your dining room will accommodate a larger table, the choice can be overwhelming. Our guide to antique dining tables highlights the most popular styles but it’s worth noting that earlier pieces were often designed to seat 20+ guests. If this is what you are looking for, search Georgian or Regency period furniture. The Victorians favoured large pieces too, and cabinet makers often made dining tables with a winding mechanism to extend and close it to different lengths.
How to choose the perfect antique dining table
Once you’re ready to shop for your antique dining table, the following tips will help you find the perfect one and show you what to look out for in a fake:
• Examine the table top – it should match the undercarriage – to make sure it isn’t a replacement.
• Don’t expect perfection! Your table is an antique, produced before power tools and often crafted by hand, so table legs may not be identical and detailing may not be perfectly matched.
• Beware modern screws and nails. These, and any hinges, may be handmade but even where they aren’t, you should expect signs of wear and tear.
• When viewing a dining table, always sit at it in a standard-height dining chair. Make sure the table is not too low - many antique dining tables are up to 4 inches lower than modern tables which are generally 28-30” high. If the table feels too low, check there weren’t castors originally that may have been removed – these can always be replaced. Your knees should also clear the table apron, the piece of wood that juts down underneath the table top.
• Where an antique dining table has leaves, make sure they fit correctly. Ask to see the opening and closing mechanism in action and check that it is working well. When the leaves are in place, check that they are fully supported when open.
• Check that legs are sturdy but if they are loose, check that they can be tightened. Does the table sit flat on the floor? A slight wiggle could mean it is displayed on an uneven surface so try moving it slightly to see if it rights itself.
• Examine veneered dining tables closely, looking for any missing, loose or damaged sections.
• Finally, check the feet of the table. Unless you have a complete history and provenance for the piece and know where it has been used/stored, you will not know if it has spent any time outdoors or in a damp cellar. Checking for signs of damp or rot will save you time and money later on.
Period furniture for sale at Hemswell Antique Centres
Whether you are looking for an antique oak dining room table or an antique extendable dining room table, our Hemswell dealers have curated a fine selection of pieces to view in our online period furniture department, with many more available to see in person in our centres. For those looking for a more rustic aesthetic, we also have large selection of antique pine furniture online.
