Skip to main content

Butterfly Coffee Table

2
403
116
37
to
32
422
118
555
483
490
148
38
14
7
5
4
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
50
350
153
25
166
100
4
2
5
7
56
59
67
12
1
312
176
105
89
79
197
186
172
85
58
56
46
12
6
5
Sort By
Amethyst Geode Butterfly Coffee Table
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Butterfly coffee table made of pair of wing shaped natural Brazilian amethyst gold leafed in 22K
Category

Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Amethyst, Bronze, Gold Leaf

Amethyst Geode Butterfly Coffee Table
Amethyst Geode Butterfly Coffee Table
H 14.5 in W 48 in D 46 in
“Butterfly” coffee table in gilded and patinated brass circa 1970
Located in Isle Sur Sorgue, FR
“Butterfly” coffee table in gilded and patinated brass circa 1970
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Mid-Century Modern Center Tables

Materials

Brass

Amethyst and 22k Gold Leaf Butterfly Coffee Table
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Butterfly coffee table made of Brazilian amethyst gilded in 22k gold leaf and set on solid cast
Category

2010s American Hollywood Regency Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Amethyst, Bronze

French Solid Cast Iron French Scrolling "Butterfly" Coffee Table with Marble Top
Located in Miami, FL
Antique cast iron French pastry style black scrolling "Butterfly" coffee table with marble top
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Baroque Patio and Garden Furniture

Materials

Marble, Iron

French Solid Cast Iron French Scrolling "Butterfly" Coffee Table with Marble Top
Located in Miami, FL
Antique cast iron French pastry style black scrolling "Butterfly" coffee table with marble top
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Baroque Patio and Garden Furniture

Materials

Marble, Iron

Blue Butterflies Coffee Table
Located in Paris, FR
Coffee Table Blue Butterflies with top box frame in plexiglass and with removable upper table top
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Blue Butterflies Coffee Table
Blue Butterflies Coffee Table
H 14.57 in W 49.22 in D 39.38 in
Jacques Duval Brasseur Illuminated Gold Butterfly Coffee Table
By Jacques Duval Brasseur
Located in Hastings, GB
A beautiful butterfly inspired hand crafted coffee table, designed and made by the world renowned
Category

Vintage 1970s French Brutalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Agate, Brass

1970′ Illuminating Butterfly Coffee Table Brown Agates Style Duval Brasseur
By Jacques Duval Brasseur
Located in Paris, FR
Lighting coffee table in bronze or gilded and welded brass, the wings are set with brown agates
Category

Vintage 1970s European Brutalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Agate, Brass

Contemporary Round Coffee Table Butterfly by Hannes Peer for SEM
By SEM, Hannes Peer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The 'Butterfly' coffee table is also a new entry to the 'Paesaggio' collection. Hannes Peer
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Console Tables

Materials

Cement

Butterfly Round Coffee Table by SEM
Located in Geneve, CH
Butterfly round coffee table by SEM Dimensions: D140x H31.2 cm Material: Glossy lacquered finish
Category

2010s Italian Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Lacquer

French Solid Cast Iron French Scrolling Bistro Table with Pink Marble Top
Located in Miami, FL
Antique cast iron French pastry style black scrolling "Butterfly" coffee table with marble top
Category

Early 20th Century French Baroque Patio and Garden Furniture

Materials

Marble, Iron

Coffee Table Resin 70s Inclusion Butterflies of Accolay
Located in Marseille, FR
Accolay coffee table in resin 70s inclusion of butterflies and flowers dimension tray 66 x 66
Category

20th Century Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Resin

"Butterfly & Flower" Motif Coffee Table, France, circa 1950s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Unusual and charming wrought-iron coffee table. The table top has a lovely buttelfy and flower
Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Zanotta Butterfly Glass Top Coffee Table by Alexander Taylor
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
plate glass. The bent plywood modular frame of the coffee table Butterfly, which reproduces the elegant
Category

2010s Italian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Plywood

Zanotta Butterfly Glass Top Coffee Table by Alexander Taylor
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
plate glass. The bent plywood modular frame of the coffee table Butterfly, which reproduces the elegant
Category

2010s Italian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Plywood

Illuminated Lucite and Chrome Lighted Butterfly Base Coffee Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage illuminated Lucite and chrome lighted butterfly base Mid-Century Modern coffee table. Item
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Butterfly Lucite and Glass Cocktail Coffee Table Rolling
Located in Lake Worth, FL
rolling butterfly lucite and glass center cocktail coffee table Featuring a beveled glass top and both
Category

Vintage 1980s Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Lucite, Glass

Modern Live Edge Walnut Slab Coffee Table with Butterflies
By Martell Woodworks
Located in Mendocino, CA
This is a coffee table I made from a 1.5" thick slab of black walnut, with some beautiful figure in
Category

2010s American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Maple, Walnut

Andrianna Shamaris Butterfly Shaped Bleached Teak Wood Coffee Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Reclaimed bleached teak amorphous coffee table. A slight graduation from the bottom to the top
Category

2010s Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood

1970 ‘Enlightening Bonzai Coffee Table Butterfly Gilt Bronze Isabelle Faure
By Isabelle Faure
Located in Paris, FR
1lluminating gilt bronze coffee table, 4 bulbs, representing a bonsai on a sand dune with a bronze
Category

Vintage 1960s French Brutalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Bronze

Martell Woodworks Claro Walnut Slab Coffee Table with Wenge Butterflies
By Martell Woodworks
Located in Mendocino, CA
This is an example of a Claro walnut slab coffee table I make, inlaid with wenge butterflies, and
Category

2010s American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Walnut, Wenge

18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style White Arena Coffee Table with butterfly
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
Arena Coffee Table with carved apron and butterflies. In a refined solid wood structure, this
Category

2010s Italian Other Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Signed Butterfly Lucite Brass & Glass Coffee Table by Lion in Frost
By Lion in Frost
Located in Lake Worth, FL
acquisitions of a Vintage signed butterfly Lucite, brass & glass coffee cocktail table by Lion in Frost We had
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Jean White Bronze Lost Wax Cast Butterfly Indoor or Outdoor Coffee Table
By Fred&Juul
Located in Fiesole, Florence
A swarm of butterflies as delicate as a lace table cloth forms an everlasting table top in white
Category

2010s Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Metal

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lucite Butterfly Lion in Frost Style Coffee Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Lucite butterfly lion in frost style coffee table. Item includes
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Lucite

Bespoke Butterfly Inlay Round Wood Coffee Table Gold Trim Gilded Cabriole Legs
By Maison Jansen
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Beautiful custom butterfly inlay design on an elegant round coffee cocktail table accented by gold
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Regency Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Lucite Butterfly Wing Glass Coffee Table Hollywood Regency after Lion in Frost
By Lion in Frost
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage clear Lucite butterfly form coffee or cocktail table in the manner of "Lion in Frost." Item
Category

Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Lucite

Large c. 1970s Thick Slab Live Edge Organic Coffee Table Butterfly Joints Nice
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Large Vintage circa 1970s thick slab live edge organic coffee table butterfly joints nice patina
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Shell, Epoxy Resin, Walnut

"Heritage" White Oak Solid Steel-Leg Coffee Table or Desk with Butterfly Inlays
By Michael Madley
Located in Frankfurt, KY
Custom-made solid steel butterfly inlays interlock book-matched White Oak atop a solid cold-rolled
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Minimalist Coffee and Cocktail Ta...

Materials

Bronze

Jean Bronze Lost Wax Cast Butterfly Indoor or Outdoor Coffee Table by Fred&Juul
By Fred&Juul
Located in Fiesole, Florence
A swarm of butterflies as delicate as a lace table cloth forms an everlasting table top in white
Category

2010s Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Metal, Bronze

20th Century Gio Ponti Fontana Arte Coffee Table in Wood and Butterfly Glass Top
By Fontana Arte, Gio Ponti
Located in Turin, Turin
Italian design over the years. Coffee table designed by Gio Ponti in '50s for Fontana Arte. The table has
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Wood

Aquariquara and Resin Coffee Table
Located in Paris, FR
Coffee table Aquariquara and resin with aquariquara carapanauba wood from brazilian mangrove
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Resin, Wood

Aquariquara and Resin Coffee Table
Aquariquara and Resin Coffee Table
H 13.78 in W 61.03 in D 33.27 in
Genaro Alvarez Six Piece Butterfly Mosaic Cocktail Table Mexico 1950s
By Genaro Alvarez
Located in Camden, ME
Six Piece Studio Mosaic table by Genaro Alvarez composed of intricate inlaid glass mosaic designs
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Live Edge Graft Coffee Table
By Taylor Donsker
Located in Sebastopol, CA
The graft coffee table by Taylor Donsker features a live edge California Claro Walnut Y-slab top
Category

2010s American Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Steel

Live Edge Graft Coffee Table
Live Edge Graft Coffee Table
H 14 in W 42 in D 48 in
Free-Form Wood Coffee Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful cross cut Albezia wood in an organic shape with inset bronze mariposas (butterflies) with
Category

20th Century Guatemalan Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Free-Form Wood Coffee Table
Free-Form Wood Coffee Table
H 17 in W 53 in D 43 in
"Heritage" Midcentury Modern Brass & Sonoran Mesquite Table With Brass Butterfly
By Michael Madley
Located in Frankfurt, KY
Custom-made solid brass butterfly inlays interlock book-matched Sonoran Mesquite atop a solid brass
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Co...

Materials

Brass

Mira Nakashima Live Edge Coffee Table
By Mira Nakashima
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Live Edge Coffee Table by Mira Nakashima, in black walnut with dramatic variation in the
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Rosewood, Walnut

Mira Nakashima Live Edge Coffee Table
Mira Nakashima Live Edge Coffee Table
H 15.25 in W 30 in D 76 in
1970's Live Edge Coffee Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
This organic shaped live edge coffee table is from the 1970s. There are interesting construction
Category

Late 20th Century American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Walnut

1970's Live Edge Coffee Table
1970's Live Edge Coffee Table
H 14.25 in W 75 in D 23 in
Jasmin Coffee Table by F. Lasbleiz
Located in 성동구, KR
Decorator and architect, F. Lasbleiz designed the A0 coffee table in 1953 for Airborne, which later
Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass, Steel

Jasmin Coffee Table by F. Lasbleiz
Jasmin Coffee Table by F. Lasbleiz
H 13 in W 34.26 in D 34.26 in
Chinese Fujian Province Qing Dynasty 19th Century Butterfly Low Drinks Table
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese Qing Dynasty period 19th century low butterfly-shaped drinks table from the Fujian
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Andrianna Shamaris Amorphous Rosewood Coffee Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Impressive reclaimed rosewood coffee table. We polished the top with a natural oil to bring out the
Category

2010s Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Rosewood, Reclaimed Wood

Andrianna Shamaris Charred Rosewood Coffee Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful butterfly shape on this impressive single rosewood root coffee table. Both usable and
Category

2010s Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Rosewood, Reclaimed Wood

Butterfly Inlay Table In White Marble Handcrafted in India By Stephanie Odegard
By Stephanie Odegard Collection
Located in New York, NY
The Butterfly table is a part of the Ornamenti collection. Delicately cut pieces of agate, tiger
Category

2010s American Other Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Marble, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite

Butterfly Inlay Table In White Marble Handcrafted in India By Stephanie Odegard
By Stephanie Odegard Collection
Located in New York, NY
The butterfly table is a part of the Ornamenti collection. Delicately cut pieces of agate, tiger
Category

2010s Indian Other Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Marble

Pietra Dura Inlay Italian Coffee Table
Located in London, GB
Pietra Dura inlay Italian coffee table Italian, 19th century Measures: Height 59cm, width 83cm
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Renaissance Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Stone

Pietra Dura Inlay Italian Coffee Table
Pietra Dura Inlay Italian Coffee Table
H 23.23 in W 32.68 in D 24.81 in
Set of Two Butterfly Inlay Tables in White Marble Handcrafted in India
By Stephanie Odegard Collection
Located in New York, NY
The butterfly table is a part of the Ornamenti collection. Delicately cut pieces of agate, tiger
Category

2010s Indian Other Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Marble

Butterfly Inlay Table in White Marble Handcrafted in India by Stephanie Odegard
By Stephanie Odegard Collection
Located in New York, NY
The butterfly table is a part of the Ornamenti collection. Delicately cut pieces of agate, tiger
Category

2010s Indian Other Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Marble

Brutalist Coffee Table in Aluminum and Glass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Coffee table, aluminum, glass, Belgium, 1980s This Belgian brutalist coffee table with a butterfly
Category

Vintage 1980s Belgian Brutalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Brutalist Coffee Table in Aluminum and Glass
Brutalist Coffee Table in Aluminum and Glass
H 17.92 in W 23.04 in D 38.78 in
Mid-Century Modern Carved Lucite Butterfly Base Square Glass Top Accent Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Mid-Century Modern Carved lucite Butterfly Base Square Glass Top Accent Table Mid-Century Modern
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Lucite

Free Form Albezia Wood Slab Coffee Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This coffee table consists of a freeform slab of Albezia wood which showcases a range of beautiful
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Andrianna Shamaris Modern Teak Wood Coffee Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Modern solid teak coffee table with butterfly detail. We added a two inch inset base so that the
Category

2010s Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood

Andrianna Shamaris Minimalist Small Coffee Table, Side Table or Bench
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
table, side table or bench. A butterfly is meticulously inlaid into the side. It’s all in the details
Category

2010s Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Reclaimed Wood

Andrianna Shamaris Live Edge Ebonized Coffee Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Impressive single teak slab coffee table with beautiful unique erosion in the wood. We added an "A
Category

2010s Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Teak, Wood, Reclaimed Wood

Mid-Century Modern Sculpted Lucite Coffee Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful vintage modern coffee table boasts an unusual sculpted Lucite base. A large
Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Lucite

Phillip Lloyd Powell Coffee Table in Walnut
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Waalwijk, NL
strong appearance in creating this unique coffee table. Wood joints to connect the legs and a butterfly
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Walnut

Phillip Lloyd Powell Coffee Table in Walnut
Phillip Lloyd Powell Coffee Table in Walnut
H 13.59 in W 72.84 in D 14.97 in
Solid Heart Pine Beam "Greenwich Ave Table" with Inlayed Steel Butterfly Keys
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
the original Longleaf Pine forest remains. This table is composed of four pre-1900 12" x 12"; beams
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktai...

Materials

Steel

Andrianna Shamaris Single Charred Suar Wood Coffee Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful live edge coffee table produced from a single three inch thick suar wood slab. Charred
Category

2010s Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Reclaimed Wood, Wood

Unique Signed Coffee Table by Jörg Pietschmann
By Jörg Pietschmann
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique signed table by Jörg Pietschmann Table · Ebiara / Australian grass tree, T1104 Measures: H
Category

2010s German Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Unique Signed Coffee Table by Jörg Pietschmann
Unique Signed Coffee Table by Jörg Pietschmann
H 16.93 in W 22.84 in D 21.66 in
Studio Coffee Table by Michael Rozell US, 2020
Located in Berlin, DE
Studio coffee table by Michael Rozell from Columbus Ohio, US, 2020 Hard maple top, bird's-eye
Category

2010s American American Craftsman Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Maple

Andrianna Shamaris Wabi Sabi Teak Wood Coffee Table
By Andrianna Shamaris
Located in New York, NY
. This coffee table was handmade in the spirit of Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese philosophy that beauty can be
Category

Vintage 1950s Organic Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood

  • 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Butterfly Coffee Table", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Butterfly Coffee Table For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the butterfly coffee table you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each butterfly coffee table for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, wood and glass. If you’re shopping for a butterfly coffee table, we have 48 options in-stock, while there are 14 modern editions to choose from as well. Your living room may not be complete without a butterfly coffee table — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right butterfly coffee table, those designed in Mid-Century Modern, Hollywood Regency and Modern styles are of considerable interest. A well-made butterfly coffee table has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Lion in Frost, Andrianna Shamaris and Ivano Redaelli are consistently popular.

How Much is a Butterfly Coffee Table?

Prices for a butterfly coffee table start at $74 and top out at $48,000 with the average selling for $3,767.

Finding the Right coffee-tables-cocktail-tables for You

As a practical focal point in your living area, antique and vintage coffee tables and cocktail tables are an invaluable addition to any interior.

Low tables that were initially used as tea tables or coffee tables have been around since at least the mid- to late-1800s. Early coffee tables surfaced in Victorian-era England, likely influenced by the use of tea tables in Japanese tea gardens. In the United States, furniture makers worked to introduce low, long tables into their offerings as the popularity of coffee and “coffee breaks” took hold during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

It didn’t take long for coffee tables and cocktail tables to become a design staple and for consumers to recognize their role in entertaining no matter what beverages were being served. Originally, these tables were as simple as they are practical — as high as your sofa and made primarily of wood. In recent years, however, metal, glass and plastics have become popular in coffee tables and cocktail tables, and design hasn’t been restricted to the conventional low profile, either.

Visionary craftspeople such as Paul Evans introduced bold, geometric designs that challenge the traditional idea of what a coffee table can be. The elongated rectangles and wide boxy forms of Evans’s desirable Cityscape coffee table, for example, will meet your needs but undoubtedly prove imposing in your living space.

If you’re shopping for an older coffee table to bring into your home — be it an antique Georgian-style coffee table made of mahogany or walnut with decorative inlays or a classic square mid-century modern piece comprised of rosewood designed by the likes of Ettore Sottsass — there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Both the table itself and what you put on it should align with the overall design of the room, not just by what you think looks fashionable in isolation. According to interior designer Tamara Eaton, the material of your vintage coffee table is something you need to consider. “With a glass coffee table, you also have to think about the surface underneath, like the rug or floor,” she says. “With wood and stone tables, you think about what’s on top.”

Find the perfect centerpiece for any room, no matter what your personal furniture style on 1stDibs. Browse a vast selection of antique, new and vintage coffee table and cocktail tables today.

Questions About Butterfly Coffee Table
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A butterfly table is a table that features a fold-out design that allows you to expand the table surface when needed. The name refers to the butterfly-like motion of the table leaf as it is folded out. Shop a collection of beautifully crafted butterfly tables from top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The butterfly leaf of a table is a panel that can be used to expand the surface area of a table. Named after the insect, a butterfly leaf table opens in place, similar to a butterfly's wings, and also folds back into itself, sliding under the table to optimize storage. Shop a selection of butterfly leaf tables from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
    Dining room tables with butterfly leaves look like they have wings when they’re being opened, which is why they’re called butterflies. A butterfly leaf affords you more space at your dining table for additional house guests. Owing to geared slides, butterfly leaf tables should open easily.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Typically, an ottoman is not a coffee table. An ottoman is a small cushioned seat without a back or arm rests. You can shop a collection of vintage and contemporary ottomans from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019

    A coffee table should generally be two-thirds as long as the sofa it stands in front of and around the same height as the sofa’s seat cushions.

  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 12, 2024
    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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 15, 2019

    Coffee tables were originally used in living spaces during social gatherings to support a tray containing multiple mugs, a coffee pot, creamers and sugar bowls. Low to the ground and centrally located in the space, coffee tables reduced the host or hostess’s need to constantly stand and serve her guests.

  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    Yes, end tables are generally taller than coffee tables.

    The term “end table” is frequently used interchangeably with “coffee table,” and while these two furnishings have much in common, each table type offers its own distinctive benefits in your space.

    Your end table is likely going to stand as tall as the arms of your sofa, and its depth will match the seating. These attributes allow for tucking the table neatly at the end of your sofa in order to provide an elevated surface between your seating and the wall. End tables are accent pieces — they’re a close cousin to side tables, but side tables, not unlike the show-stealing low-profile coffee table, are intended to be positioned prominently and have more to do with the flow and design of a room than an end table, which does a great job but does it out of the way of everything else.

    Find all kinds of antique and vintage tables on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    While both pieces are relatively new to the furniture world, the main difference between them are their shapes. A cocktail table is generally square or rectangular in shape, while a coffee table tends to be oval or circular in shape. You can shop a collection of furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019

    The difference between a sofa table and a coffee table is that a sofa table is always behind the sofa and a coffee table is in front of it. Additionally, a sofa table is the same height as the sofa and a coffee table is much shorter.

  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    To stack books on a coffee table, place the largest one on the bottom with the spine facing the focal piece of furniture, usually the sofa. Then, add the next largest, lining up the inner edges so that the spines create a stepped effect. Continue adding books to complete the stack and top it off with a decorative object if you wish. Shop a variety of coffee tables on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    Yes, a coffee table should generally be lower than a couch. However, the top of the table should only be slightly lower than the couch to maintain a balanced look. A good rule of thumb is to choose a table no more than one inch shorter than your sofa's seat height. Explore a large collection of coffee tables on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    How big a coffee table for a sectional should be depends on the dimensions of the sectional. For a balanced look, a coffee table should be roughly two-thirds of the length of the sofa portion of a sofa and chaise sectional. If you have an L-shaped sofa, the coffee table should be around two-thirds of the length of each arm. Find a wide variety of coffee tables on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024
    The average height of a coffee table is around 16 to 18 inches. Designers typically choose this height to create a balance between coffee tables and sofas. The average seat height of sofas is 17 to 18 inches, and experts typically recommend that coffee tables be no more than 1 inch shorter than sofa-seat height. Explore a diverse assortment of coffee tables on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    The best coffee table for a sectional can be a round coffee table, particularly with respect to U-shaped sectionals. The circular design creates a sense of balance in small spaces and renders it easy for guests to move to and fro, especially when surrounded by chairs. Find a collection of antique and vintage coffee tables on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To authenticate your Noguchi coffee table, there are three different marks to look for. Isamu Noguchi’s signature will be on the edge of the table and on a medallion under the base. Even under the medallion, you will find Noguchi’s initials. Shop a collection of properly vetted Noguchi pieces from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021
    A tall coffee table is usually called exactly that — a tall coffee table. Coffee tables, also referred to as cocktail tables, are generally designed to sit at or below the sofa's seat height. These tables may come in a range of sizes, but they are often between 16 and 18 inches high and are designed in a variety of lengths and widths. They’re meant to provide a practical table-top surface that complements your living room layout. (A tall version might also be suitable for use as a dining table.) Shop a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary tall coffee tables from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Modern coffee tables tend to be low because they’re most commonly placed in front of couches and chairs. Historically, coffee tables were placed behind the couch which necessitated a taller table. Over time, as styles changed and coffee tables came to be positioned in front of couches, their heights were lowered to accommodate the modern arrangement. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of vintage and contemporary coffee tables from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
    Whether glass coffee tables are durable depends on the craftsmanship and the materials. Generally, tables with tempered glass are less likely to shatter and break. How well you care for a coffee table will also impact its life span. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of glass coffee tables.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
    To date a Lane coffee table, look for the serial number on the underside of the piece. On most Lane coffee tables, reading the number from right to left will tell you the date that the table was manufactured. For example, a serial number that says 852140 would have been produced on April 12, 1958. Founded in Virginia in the early 20th century, Lane is largely known for its cedar chests and innovative mid-century modern designs. Find a variety of Lane coffee tables on 1stDibs.