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
Expertly Restored-Adrian Pearsall Model 2450TK Coffee Table for Craft Associates
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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In good condition, shows signs of wear due to age.
SIZING:
Height 47 cm; diameter 62 cm;
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Italian Chrome and Glass Coffee Table by Tricom c. 1060/70's
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Located in New York, NY
Stylish Mid Century, Space Age chrome and glass coffee table, made in Italy by Tricom circa 1960/70's. The table features bright chrome frame with it's original glass top. This exam...
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Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze "Stalagmite" Coffee Table, Signed brutalist MCM
By Paul Evans
Located in Sayreville, NJ
Paul Evans designed Pe-71 coffee table
Stunning designer collectors piece that's in great original condition. The glass top has surface scratches .
Dim: 42" D x 16" H
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Gianfranco Frattini Nesting Table 1970s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Gianfranco Frattini Nesting Table 1970s
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Mid-Century Gae Aulenti Jumbo Coffee Table, Arabescato Marble for Knoll
By Knoll, Gae Aulenti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jumbo coffee table designed by Italian architect Gae Aulenti in 1965 for Gavina, later acquired by Knoll in 1972. Sculptural piece constructed entirely from Arabescato marble with fo...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
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