Grolier Table

After finishing his studies in finance and marketing in London and New York, Istanbul-born designer Barlas Baylar established Hudson Furniture in 2004 in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Baylar’s reputable firm draws on modern architecture and classic Art Deco design to produce intriguing, complex lighting fixtures and furnishings. 

At its New York City atelier, Hudson Furniture’ highly skilled craftspeople create dining tables, chairs and decorative objects by hand, giving each piece its own individual provenance. With respect to sourcing its materials, the company prioritizes conservation (Hudson is a repository for legally harvested petrified wood).

Baylar’s firm utilizes strictly dead or dying wood from around the world, accepting salvaged material and wood from trees downed by storm damage or other natural occurrences, and owing to his love for nature, he seeks to bring the outdoors into interior spaces so that its beauty can be admired as pieces of functional but sculptural furniture. 

From the exquisite hand-blown globe glass elements that comprise his Valiant lighting collection to sculptural, striking polished bronze branches that wrap around his Meta credenza, Bayler designs provocative furniture that elevates any space. Over the years Hudson Furniture has partnered with the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Tom Ford and more.  

Whether it's a stand-alone coffee table or part of a dining room chair set on display in the firm’s New York City showroom, Hudson Furniture continues to create marvelous, one-of-a-kind pieces to be cherished for generations to come.

Find Barlas Baylar tables, seating and lighting on 1stDibs.

No matter your furniture style of choice, a shared meal is one of life’s true rewards. Why not treat your family and friends to a luxurious dining experience? Browse our top picks to find the perfect antique, new or vintage dining room table for this important occasion.

Modern furniture design borrows significantly from the trends of yore, and this is especially apparent in dining tables. Ancient Egyptians made practical use of the earliest four-legged tables of wood and rock — their models bear striking similarity to the dining tables of today — while common large medieval dining room tables in England were made of oak or elm. Romans and Greeks, renowned for big banquets that involved entertainment as well as good food, used early dining room tables made of marble or wood and metals such as bronze for meals. 

On 1stDibs, find a range of dining room tables that offers no shortage of options to accommodate modest interiors, midsize family homes and even lavish banquets (entertainment not included).

Beginning in the mid-19th century, more American homes featured dining rooms, where families could gather specifically for a meal together. In the States, upper-class families were the first to enjoy dining room tables, which were the centerpiece of the dining room. 

Dining room tables of the Victorian era were created in a range of revivalist styles inspired by neoclassical, Renaissance, Gothic and other traditions. Furnishings of the period were made of various woods, including oak, rosewood and mahogany, and referenced a variety of decorative arts and architectural motifs. Some dining room tables finished in the Rococo style feature gorgeous inlaid marble tabletops or other ornamental flourishes handcrafted by Parisian furniture makers of the 18th century.

In many modern spaces, there often isn’t a dining room separate from the kitchen — instead, they frequently share real estate in a single area. Mid-century modern dining room tables, specifically those created by designers such as Osvaldo Borsani, Edward Wormley and Alvar Aalto, are typically clean and uncomplicated designs for a dining area that’s adjacent to where the cooking is done. Furniture of this era hasn’t lost its allure for those who opt for a casual and contemporary aesthetic.

If you’re of the modern mindset that making and sharing meals should be one in the same — and perhaps large antique dining tables don’t mesh well with your style — consider a popular alternative. Working with a tighter space may mean that a round or oval dining room table, a design that references the festive meals of the medieval era, may be a better fit. Round dining room tables, particularly those that originated in the Art Deco period, still endure as a popular contemporary substitute for traditional rectangular dining tables. Giovanni Offredi’s Paracarro table for Saporiti Italia is a striking round table option that showcases the magnificent Italian industrial design of the 1970s.

Find a collection of antique, new and vintage dining tables on 1stDibs.