Victorian extending dining tables

There are many different designs of dining tables on the market but in my experience the most versatile and stable are the Victorian and Edwardian extending dining tables. They come with leaf insertions that fit in when the table has been pulled (earlier design) and wound out on a screw mechanism by turning a crank handle (much like you would see on a vintage car)

This table has 2 leaves and winds down to a square table when the the leaves are taken out

Normally these tables have 1 or 2 leaf insertions. The 1 leaf tables sit 6 very comfortably and may sit 8 at a squeeze and the 2 leaf tables seat 8-10 comfortably perhaps 12. I have had these tables with 5 leaves that would seat 24 + but they are scarce nowadays.

I f you are thinking of buying such a table , ask if the leaves are original. Nowadays these tables are becoming very difficult to source with original leaves but it is a big plus if they are. Make sure the leaves are flat and not warped and the table does not sag when fully extended. Sagging occurs when the table has been heavily used and wound in and out most days and so the runners become worn.
An expensive job to repair.

The table above is 14ft long when extended

The table leg on this example above is quite desirable, although beware that a lot of the modern copies imported from Indonesia have this design.

This table would be circular when the leaf had been taken out

 

This table is in stock at present and would have been made circa 1880-1900 

The table above is made of solid walnut and is a late Victorian example. It is known as a cut corner table

visit www.hingstons-antiques.co.uk to view other Victorian dining tables