Tray Tables
20th Century British British Colonial Tray Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century Moroccan Islamic Tray Tables
Copper
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Wood
1960s Danish Islamic Vintage Tray Tables
Brass, Bronze
1990s American Tray Tables
Faux Bamboo, Wood
Early 20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Tray Tables
Fruitwood
1970s Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Tray Tables
Walnut
19th Century English Campaign Antique Tray Tables
Wood, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Tray Tables
Teak
2010s Polish Tray Tables
Marble
2010s Italian Tray Tables
Leather, Walnut
2010s Italian Modern Tray Tables
Marble
20th Century British Tray Tables
Faux Bamboo
2010s Renaissance Tray Tables
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Antique Tray Tables
Brass
1970s German Space Age Vintage Tray Tables
Metal
1980s Chippendale Vintage Tray Tables
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Tray Tables
Marble, Steel
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tray Tables
Metal
1960s Italian Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Teak, Bentwood, Plywood
Late 19th Century French Antique Tray Tables
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Tray Tables
Glass, Walnut
1890s Japanese Meiji Antique Tray Tables
Teak
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Tray Tables
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tray Tables
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Tray Tables
Leather, Wood
1970s Dutch Space Age Vintage Tray Tables
Plastic
19th Century English Antique Tray Tables
Metal
19th Century English Edwardian Antique Tray Tables
Satinwood
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Bronze, Nickel, Brass
2010s Danish Post-Modern Tray Tables
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Guatemalan Modern Tray Tables
Wood
2010s Italian Modern Tray Tables
Leather, Wood
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1940s Italian Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
20th Century British British Colonial Tray Tables
Brass
1820s French Neoclassical Antique Tray Tables
Metal
2010s Polish Tray Tables
Marble
2010s Tray Tables
Leather, Walnut
1960s German Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Tray Tables
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Marble
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1860s English Late Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Lacquer, Paper
1980s Vintage Tray Tables
Metal, Brass
Late 19th Century Turkish Islamic Antique Tray Tables
Metal, Copper
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Metal
Early 20th Century Italian Tray Tables
Metal
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Tray Tables
Lacquer
2010s Italian Modern Tray Tables
Marble
Mid-20th Century Campaign Tray Tables
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Tray Tables
Marble
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Organic Modern Tray Tables
Brass
Antique and Vintage Tray Tables
The popularity of antique and vintage tray tables owes mostly to the 1950s, when the first TV dinners made their way into the freezers of American kitchens.
At a time when televisions were increasingly becoming fixtures in the living rooms of most homes in the United States, the tray table was impossibly convenient. With a deft merging of function and style, the table, positioned in front of your sofa or plush armchair, was a place to rest your Swanson-brand TV dinner, a compartmentalized supper issued on a disposable tray that required minimal preparation. The technological advances of the mid-century kitchen included programmable ovens, so TV dinners were quick and easy, particularly when home-cooked meals were out of the question.
When one had finished the last bite of this square meal, which was packed into sections that assumed various geometric shapes in their own partitioned aluminum tray, the tray table could be easily folded up and tucked away until needed again.
Eventually, designers took to exploring iterations of the widely loved tray table that would better suit household needs. Once a simple, foldable furnishing that was confined to use at mealtime, tray tables are now somewhat of a budget-friendly design staple for many households. Today, tray tables are as versatile as ever, and such a wide range has been manufactured over the years that you’re likely to find a good fit no matter what your furniture style preferences might be.
Tray tables are used as side tables, nightstands, a bar tray when your space won’t accommodate that handsome vintage bar cart you’ve been looking for and desks, particularly as many of us are working from home and especially when a modest-sized apartment won’t allow for larger tables.
Tray tables vary in style, shape and size. When looking for a tray table, you should measure accordingly and ensure that wherever it will land in your space there will be room around the table to allow for easy movement.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique and vintage tray tables that includes mid-century modern tray tables, Art Deco versions and more.