Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
Who invented the coffee table?
1 Answer
No one knows for sure who invented the coffee table. The earliest examples of the occasional table can be traced back to Victorian-era Britain. At that time, makers like William Watt and Collinson and Lock were producing coffee tables in large quantities.
Notably, F. Stuart Foote, the designer behind the American Imperial Furniture Company, claimed to have invented the coffee table in the early 20th century. He stated that he did so by cutting down the legs of a dining table. However, it's unlikely that Foote is the actual inventor of the coffee table, as books describing coffee tables existed in the UK a decade before his birth in 1872.
Shop a wide variety of coffee tables on 1stDibs.
Notably, F. Stuart Foote, the designer behind the American Imperial Furniture Company, claimed to have invented the coffee table in the early 20th century. He stated that he did so by cutting down the legs of a dining table. However, it's unlikely that Foote is the actual inventor of the coffee table, as books describing coffee tables existed in the UK a decade before his birth in 1872.
Shop a wide variety of coffee tables on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertApril 12, 2024
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Shop for Coffee Tables and Cocktail Tables on 1stDibs
Mid-Century Modern “American Leisure” Walnut Coffee Table / Bench by Kroehler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Expertly Refinished
With over 15 years of experience, our workshop has followed a careful process of restoration, showcasing our passion and creativity for vintage designs...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut
Roger Capron ‘Sou-Chong’ Coffee Table in Ceramic and Wood
By Roger Capron
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roger Capron, ‘Sou-Chong’ coffee table, ceramic, stained beech, France, 1971
Lovely French coffee table with wonderful composed ceramic tiles by French designer Roger Capron. Both t...
Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Beech
Roger Capron Style Brutalist Oak and Terracotta Tile Coffee Table, 1960s
By Roger Capron
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oak frame construction supports a recessed grid of raw, unglazed terracotta tiles set in dark grout. The tiles vary slightly in tone across the surface, reflecting the handmade chara...
Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Brutalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Oak
Roger Capron Round Coffee Table with Floral Imprints in Ceramic and Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roger Capron, coffee table, ceramic, beech, France, 1960s
This table is another exquisite example of Roger Capron’s work, showcasing a round tabletop composed of his preferred mater...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Beech
Lorenzo Burchiellaro Coffee Table in Copper
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Lorenzo Burchiellaro, coffee table, copper and beech, Italy, 1960s.
This coffee table is an absolute eye-catcher. The copper is in beautiful, patinated condition and the vibrant yet...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Copper
Claro Walnut Slab Modern Coffee Table by Last Workshop, 43"
Located in Chicago, IL
Claro Walnut Slab coffee table by Last Workshop, 2026.
Solid walnut, natural finish.
Dimensions: 40"L x 43.5" x 13"H
Customers may also choose from:
Other Slabs, Wood species, fin...
Category
2010s American Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Hardwood, Walnut
