Antique Dining Furniture
There is no better setting for a meal than around an antique dining table. Our dealers offer extending dining tables, sets of dining chairs, serving tables and complete dining suites from the Georgian, Regency, Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Mahogany, oak and walnut are the principal timbers, with pieces ranging from intimate four-seater tables to grand boardroom-length examples that seat twenty or more. Antique dining furniture turns every meal into an occasion.
Regency style mahogany pedestal dining table
Set of 8 Victorian walnut Crown top chairs
Regency style circular dining table
Regency mahogany Gillows style dining table
William IV mahogany extending dining table
Wonderful Rosewood Dining Table
Regency Coromandel Wood Dining Table
William IV Rosewood Loo Table
Solid Oak Large Barley Twist Draw Leaf Table
Choosing an Antique Dining Table
The dining table is the heart of the home, and antique tables do the job with incomparable style. The most versatile are extending tables, which can be adjusted to suit the number of guests. Victorian wind-out tables with extra leaves, Regency pedestal tables with additional sections, and Georgian gate-leg and drop-leaf tables all offer flexible solutions.
Measure your dining room carefully before buying. Allow at least 70cm per place setting along the table edge, and ensure there is enough room to pull chairs back and walk behind seated guests. A table that's too large for the room is as impractical as one that's too small.
Dining Chairs
Sets of antique dining chairs are priced per chair, with larger sets commanding a premium per chair. A set of eight or more matching chairs is relatively uncommon, so expect to pay accordingly. Alternatively, a harlequin set of chairs in similar styles can look charming and is usually more affordable.
Check that chairs are sturdy by sitting in them. Loose joints are common but easily repaired by a furniture restorer. Look at the seat: drop-in seats can be re-upholstered without specialist skills, while over-stuffed seats are better left to a professional upholsterer.
Creating a Dining Scheme
Antique dining furniture doesn't need to be a matching suite. Mixing periods and timbers can create a more interesting and personal room. A Regency mahogany table with a set of Victorian balloon-back chairs, for instance, is a classic combination that works beautifully. The key is to maintain a consistency of scale and quality.