Victorian Oval Top Drop-Leaf Gateleg Oak Table with Turned Legs
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Accented with a carved apron on the sides, this 18th century English drop-leaf gate-leg table, great as a dining table or for sewing.
Oak
Georgian Mahogany Drop-Leaf Folding Table with Tapering Legs and Pad Feet
Located in Casteren, NL
On offer here is a stunning early 19th-century English Mahogany drop leaf or gateleg table. The table rests on six round straight tapered legs ending in wonderfully large pad feet.
Mahogany
19th Century English Gate Leg Table, Dark-Stained Oak, Jacobean Style
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a 19th century English gateleg drop-leaf table crafted from dark-stained oak.
Oak
Antique and vintage drop-leaf and Pembroke tables are the perfect solution for those of us in the “space-conscious” category. These furnishings have long been a smart choice for homes, particularly if you’re working with an especially modest house or apartment.
A drop-leaf table is a table with a fixed center section, but on either side of that, there are hinged leaves that can be raised or lowered according to your specific needs.
Should you need to accommodate more guests for a dinner party, a drop-leaf table’s side pieces can be raised and locked into place on their hinges, which will extend the overall surface area of the table. If you’re thinking of serving buffet-style or need a place for dinner plates and other tableware, fold one half of the table down and tuck it against the wall, console-table-style, to make more space for the guests congregating in your dining room. When your dinner companions are ready to retire to the living room for a digestif, both drop leaves can be collapsed if you need a makeshift bar cart or if you prefer to stow away the table after dinner.
The Pembroke version of these tables was a lightweight iteration that is believed to have been named for the ninth Earl of Pembroke or his wife, the countess. It is said that the countess had a drop-leaf table commissioned for their home, specifically for the purposes of serving and eating breakfast. This Georgian-era furniture had an oval or rectangular tabletop, was usually outfitted with a drawer and was frequently made of mahogany. It was a popular furnishing that was made through the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
With its convenient transformative qualities, a drop-leaf table can be put to use in every room of your home. A Pembroke nightstand would render having breakfast from the comfort of your bed easier than ever, while a casual living-room drop-leaf end table can quickly be extended in order to make room for movie-night snacks or a family game. The appeal of these tables doesn’t end at 18th-century nobility or chess enthusiasts, however.
Furniture designers of mid-century modern drop-leaf tables explored various forms and worked with a range of materials in crafting these furnishings and even integrated elements such as wheels for extra convenience. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of vintage and antique drop-leaf and Pembroke tables that includes sleek and understated iterations crafted by Hans J. Wegner and alluring versions in teak or rosewood designed by Kurt Østervig.
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
Fans of the French film star may be surprised to learn that he had a flair for furniture with sleek lines and disco-era flash.
Like other pieces in the firm’s Candy Box collection, the cheerful limited-edition design showcases French craft.
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
The designer’s innovative use of an unexpected material gives this console a lift.
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
Use them as tables or stools, indoors or out.