What is a gateleg table?

First introduced in 16th century-England, a gateleg table is a popular kind of table that allowed for intimate dining. The tabletop of the gateleg table, which was initially round or oval versus the long tables and formal seating arrangements that preceded it, had a section that was fixed in place , while one or two sections of the surface were equipped with hinges. By design, a gateleg table could be extended so that more space could be allocated for work or for dining if needed. These hinged sections could be folded back into place on top of the fixed section or could easily be dropped down to hang vertically on their hinges when they weren’t in use. This function, which allowed the table’s drop leaves that weren’t in use to be pushed up against a wall, saved space in small homes because the table could be tucked away. Pivoted legs under the table — which formed a gate as they were joined at their tops and bottoms by crosspieces — supported the hinged sections.

What does a gateleg table mean?

“Gate” in “gateleg table” refers to the pivoted leg supports under the table that are connected at their ends by crosspieces. When raised, the table’s two drop leaves, which are usually D-shaped, are supported upon these gates. When gateleg tables originated in England in the 16th century, they were oval or round and were generally named after their shape (and weren’t yet called gateleg tables) in order to distinguish them from the long tables they’d replaced, as dining had by then been relegated to meals for the family, not an entire household and assembled guests.

What is the difference between a Gateleg table and a drop leaf table?

The difference between a gateleg table and a drop leaf table is the design of the section that you can raise to expand the piece. On a drop leaf table, the extension does not have any lower support. A gateleg table has a leg that swings out to rest beneath the extension. Find a selection of tables from some of the world's best sellers on 1stDibs.

Gateleg Tables

Drop Leaf Oval Dining Table

Drop Leaf Table Carved Legs

Oak Drop Leaf Side Table

18th Century Drop Leaf Table

Drop Leaf Gateleg Mid Century

English 19th Century Oak Dining Table

Barley Twist Drop Leaf Table

William And Mary Drop Leaf Table

Fine George III English Mahogany Demilune Table with Two Swing Drawers

$2,100

H 29 in Dm 57 in

Fine George III English Mahogany Demilune Table with Two Swing Drawers

Located in Chicago, IL

To transform the demilune into a round tea table, the gateleg needs to be positioned perpendicular to the front leg of the demilune, with brass pulls on each side before the first le...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Demi-lune Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Pair Antique 19th Century Dutch Walnut Marquetry Card Game Console Tables 1820

$12,500 / set

H 30 in W 30 in D 30 in

Pair Antique 19th Century Dutch Walnut Marquetry Card Game Console Tables 1820

Located in Portland, OR

When open the tops are supported by a gateleg, each top is fitted with a green baize/felt playing surface and at each corner is an inlaid playing card.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Dutch George III Card Tables and Tea Tables

Materials

Fruitwood, Satinwood, Walnut

18th Century George III Period Figured Cherry Antique Drop Leaf Table

$4,225

H 29.5 in W 39 in D 18.75 in

18th Century George III Period Figured Cherry Antique Drop Leaf Table

Located in Forney, TX

This remarkable hand-crafted antique, circa 1780, displays superb quality craftsmanship and construction, with hand cut dovetailing, pegged mortise tenoned joinery, and strong wooden...

Category

Antique 18th Century European Georgian Drop-leaf and Pembroke Tables

Materials

Cherry

Dining Table by Kurt Östervig for Jason Möbler, Denmark, 1950s

Price Upon Request

H 28.5 in W 76.5 in D 51 in

Dining Table by Kurt Östervig for Jason Möbler, Denmark, 1950s

By Kurt Østervig

Located in New York, NY

Dramatic V-shaped mahogany gatelegs and bookmatched rosewood top with solid rosewood edging.

Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Rosewood

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Finding the Right Tables for You

The right vintage, new or antique tables can help make any space in your home stand out.

Over the years, the variety of tables available to us, as well as our specific needs for said tables, has broadened. Today, with all manner of these must-have furnishings differing in shape, material and style, any dining room table can shine just as brightly as the guests who gather around it.

Remember, when shopping for a dining table, it must fit your dining area, and you need to account for space around the table too — think outside the box, as an oval dining table may work for tighter spaces. Alternatively, if you’ve got the room, a Regency-style dining table can elevate any formal occasion at mealtime.

Innovative furniture makers and designers have also redefined what a table can be. Whether it’s an unconventional Ping-Pong table, a brass side table to display your treasured collectibles or a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk to add an air of nostalgia to your loft, your table can say a lot about you.

The visionary work of French designer Xavier Lavergne, for example, includes tables that draw on the forms of celestial bodies as often as they do aquatic creatures or fossils. Elsewhere, Italian architect Gae Aulenti, who looked to Roman architecture in crafting her stately Jumbo coffee table, created clever glass-topped mobile coffee tables that move on bicycle tires or sculpted wood wheels for Fontana Arte.

Coffee and cocktail tables can serve as a room’s centerpiece with attention-grabbing details and colors. Glass varieties will keep your hardwood flooring and dazzling area rugs on display, while a marble or stone coffee table in a modern interior can showcase your prized art books and decorative objects. A unique vintage desk or writing table can bring sophistication and even a bit of spice to your work life.

No matter your desired form or function, a quality table for your living space is a sound investment. On 1stDibs, browse a collection of vintage, new and antique bedside tables, mid-century end tables and more .

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