When was the first table invented?

table, basic article of furniture, known and used in the Western world since at least the 7th century bce, consisting of a flat slab of stone, metal, wood, or glass supported by trestles, legs, or a pillar.

Egyptian tables were made of wood, Assyrian of metal, and Grecian usually of bronze. Roman tables took on quite elaborate forms, the legs carved in the shapes of animals, sphinxes, or grotesque figures. Cedar and other exotic woods with a decorative grain were employed for the tops, and the tripod legs were made of bronze or other metals.

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furniture: Table

Early medieval tables were of a fairly basic type, but there were certain notable exceptions; Charlemagne, for example, possessed two tables of silver and one of gold, probably constructed of wood covered with thin sheets of metal. With the growing formality of life in the feudal period, tables took on a greater social significance. Although small tables were used in private apartments, in the great hall of a feudal castle the necessity of feeding a host of retainers stimulated the development of an arrangement whereby the master and his guests sat at a rectangular table on a dais surmounted by a canopy, while the rest of the household sat at tables placed at right angles to this one.

One of the few surviving examples of a large (and much restored) round table dating from the 15th century is at Winchester Castle in Hampshire, Eng. For the most part, circular tables were intended for occasional uses. The most common type of large medieval dining table was of trestle construction, consisting of massive boards of oak or elm resting on a series of central supports to which they were affixed by pegs, which could be removed and the table dismantled. Tables with attached legs, joined by heavy stretchers fixed close to the floor, appeared in the 15th century. They were of fixed size and heavy to move, but in the 16th century an ingenious device known as a draw top made it possible to double the length of the table. The top was composed of three leaves, two of which could be placed under the third and extended on runners when required. Such tables were usually made of oak or elm but sometimes of walnut or cherry. The basic principle involved is still applied to some extending tables.

Growing technical sophistication meant that from the middle of the 16th century onward tables began to reflect far more closely than before the general design tendencies of their period and social context. The typical Elizabethan draw table, for instance, was supported on four vase-shaped legs terminating in Ionic capitals, reflecting perfectly the boisterous decorative atmosphere of the age. The despotic monarchies that yearned after the splendours of Louis XIV’s Versailles promoted a fashion for tables of conspicuous opulence. Often made in Italy, these tables, which were common between the late 17th and mid-18th century, were sometimes inlaid with elaborate patterns of marquetry or rare marbles; others, such as that presented by the City of London to Charles II on his restoration as king of England, were entirely covered in silver or were made of ebony with silver mountings.

Increasing contact with the East in the 18th century stimulated a taste for lacquered tables for occasional use. Indeed, the pattern of development in the history of the table that became apparent in this century was that, whereas the large dining table showed few stylistic changes, growing sophistication of taste and higher standards of living led to an increasing degree of specialization in occasional-table design. A whole range of particular functions was now being catered to, a tendency that persisted until at least the beginning of the 20th century. Social customs such as tea-drinking fueled the development of these specialized forms. The exploitation of man-made materials in the second half of the 20th century produced tables of such materials as plastic, metal, fibreglass, and even corrugated cardboard.

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Terry And Kim Kovel

Kovel’s Antiques And Collecting

Ever wonder who invented the table? The earliest tables seem to have been used by the ancient Egyptians, although they did not sit near it; they used the flat top to hold things. It was not until the days of the Greeks and Romans that tables were used in a house near a seated person. By the Middle Ages, large tables were used for banquets and there were special rules about the seating. But today we can find many tables made for specific tasks, like sewing, dining, playing games or holding a candle, a lamp or a special ornament. Tables have flat tops with three, four or more legs, or an unusual base. Twentieth-century designers became adventurous and made tables that were placed on the backs of two carved statues or on a series of geometric shaped blocks. Perhaps the strangest table seen recently is the “Foot Art” side table. It has a flat top, one drawer with a human nose for a handle, and a resin foot for the base. The large foot in a blue boot supports the top on three metal rods stretching up from the inside of the boot. It was sold by Burchard Galleries in Florida.

Q The Dionne quintuplets made great news when they were born in the 1930s, and I was a great fan, collecting a lot of memorabilia. I still have five silver-plated teaspoons, each with the image and name of one of the girls on the handle. What are they worth, and who might be interested in them? Are any of the quints still alive?

A The Dionne quintuplets — Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie and Yvonne — were born in Canada on May 28, 1934. They were the first quintuplets to survive. Their family was poor and already had five other children when they were born. In 1935, they were made wards of the government and moved to the Dafoe Hospital and Nursery under the supervision of the doctor who delivered them, Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe. Millions of tourists visited the Dafoe Hospital and Nursery, where they could watch the girls play. In 1943, the girls went back to live with their family. Thousands of dolls and souvenirs were made picturing the quintuplets at different ages. Carlton Silverplate Co. made a set of spoons when the girls were six years old. Palmolive Soap offered them as a premium, one spoon for two bands from Palmolive Soap bars plus 10 cents. Emilie died in 1954, Marie in 1970 and Yvonne in 2001. Annette and Cecile still live in Canada. Most people today have forgotten or have never heard the story of the Dionne quintuplets. The value of your spoons is about $25.

Q My brother bought a figurine for me at an estate sale. He paid $10 or $20 for it. The lady said it was made by Lladro, but we learned it is not. The figurine is a woman in a long blue dress with a white dog next to her. She has an umbrella hanging from one of her arms. I’m interested in the name of the porcelain company that made it and what it is worth. It’s about 7 3/4 inches high and has a crown over the letter “S” marked on the bottom.

A Your figurine was made by the Carl Scheidig porcelain factory, which was established in Grafenthal, Germany, in 1906. Figurines, decorative porcelain and gift items were made. The company was nationalized from 1972 to 1990 and concentrated on making figurines. It is still in business in Grafenthal, now operating as the Grafenthal Porcelain Factory. This mark was first used in 1990 and is still in use. Figurines like this, with long, graceful lines similar to Lladro, sell online for about $10 to $20, just what your brother paid.

Q I inherited two oil paintings by Stuart Scott Somerville. One has a label on the back that says: “A Muted Bunch.” I think they need cleaning. They both are about 29 by 24 inches and have the original gilt frames. I looked at the cost of cleaning a long time ago and found it expensive. Also, the restorer wants them reframed. My mother may have purchased them in London a long time ago. During World War II, they were hidden in China and eventually shipped to her. How much are they worth?

A Stuart Scott Somerville (1908-1983) was a British artist. His paintings sometimes sell at auctions. Art galleries and museums have access to past sales and can help you find what his paintings have sold for. They also can refer you to reputable restorers in your city. Cleaning the paintings may add value, but don’t reframe them. The original frames add value.

Tip: Use your phone camera at a flea market. Record things you might want to buy later. Record marks, etc. to look up.