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
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
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
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
Rare Jean Claude Dresse Mosaic Coffee Table in Hematite
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jean Claude Dresse, coffee table, resin, hematite, lacquered steel, Belgium, 1970s
Jean Claude Dresse’s work is typically characterized by brass and resin; his use of hematite is un...
Category
Vintage 1970s Belgian Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Steel
George Nakashima 'Slab' Coffee Table in English Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio, 'Slab' coffee table, English walnut, United States, 1964
American woodworker and designer George Nakashima demonstrates his mastery of ...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut
