Questions & Answers
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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
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
George Nakashima 'Minguren II' Coffee Table in English Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, 'Minguren II' coffee table, English walnut, American black walnut, United States, 1973
The Minguren II coffee table was developed in t...
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut
José Zanine Caldas Hand-Carved Coffee Table in Brazilian Hardwood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
José Zanine Caldas, coffee table, Brazilian hardwood (Pequi), Brazil, 1970s
This exceptional hand-carved coffee table embodies everything that José Zanine Caldas stood for: a deep ...
Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Hardwood
Handcrafted Black Cast Stone Oval Coffee Table Strawberry by Alentes Atelier
By ALENTES
Located in PALEA FOKEA, ATTIKI
A quietly sculptural table defined by soft geometry and balanced proportions. Handcrafted in Greece from Alentes’ proprietary cast stone, its solid mass and gently contoured form len...
Category
2010s Greek Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Cast Stone
1970s Modern Burl Wood Milo Baughman Style Coffee Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a modern burl walnut veneered plinth style coffee table. The base is painted black. The body is a Burl veneer. It is most likely walnut. It is done in the manner of Milo Baug...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Wood, Burl
Mid-Century Dutch Coffee Table, Rattan Basket, Smoked Glass, Lucite Legs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dutch Mid-Century, 1960s, strikingly designed coffee table with rattan basket, smoked glass top and transparent lucite legs. This round coffee table, manufactured with great expertis...
Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Rattan, Smoked Glass, Acrylic, Lucite
