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Laquer Coffee Table

Stunning Asian Black Laquer Box on Custom Stand Coffee Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An intriguing chinoiserie coffee table in black, gold, and red having a beautifully decorated box
Category

Vintage 1960s Chinese Chinoiserie Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Chinese 20th Century Black Laquer & Mother Pearl Inlaid Low Coffee Table
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this gorgeous Chinese black lacquer low coffee table with
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

1970's Square Stepped Coffee Table with Cream Laquer and Brass Inlay
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Striking 1970's wood coffee table in cream lacquer with a heavy clear lacquer overlay. Featuring
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Fabulous Aldo Tura Goatskin Coffee Table
By Aldo Tura
Located in New Orleans, LA
laquer application. Every piece is one of a kind because of the variations in animal hides. The coffee
Category

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

Materials

Goatskin, Wood

Fabulous Aldo Tura Goatskin Coffee Table
Fabulous Aldo Tura Goatskin Coffee Table
H 17.5 in W 47 in D 23.5 in
Pair of Contemporary round coffeetables with aged oak top.
Located in Casteren, NL
smaller table can be pushed under the larger one to create different settings. The tops are made from aged
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Steel

Coffee table black nlaid marble top wooden base handmade in Italy by Cupioli
By Cupioli made in Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
Decorative coffee table designed by Cupioli made in Italy, composed by a slate top with scagliola
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Arts and Crafts Sofa Tables

Materials

Slate

1950ies Two-Tiered Arlecchino Side Table Designed by Eduardo Paoli in 1955
By Vitrex, Edoardo Paoli
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Vitrex, Italy ca. in 1960. Beautiful small side or coffee table designed by Edoardo Paoli for Vitrex
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass

People Also Browsed

Extendable Coffee Table With Hidden Bar In The Style Of Willy Rizzo, 1970's
By Willy Rizzo, Cidue
Located in Zwijndrecht, Antwerp
Spectacular Italian Coffee table designed by Willy Rizzo for Cidue, circa 1970. When extended, this table contains a hidden mirrored dry bar with plenty of storage room. It features...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Metal

Willy Rizzo Orange Lacquer and Brass Bar Coffee Table Alveo, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Paris, IDF
This stunning Alveo coffee table is guaranteed to be the focus of attention when you entertain guests in your living room. Following the glamorous mid-century look of other classic W...
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Willy Rizzo burl wood and brass square bar coffee table Alveo 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Paris, IDF
This stunning square Alveo coffee table is guaranteed to be the focus of attention when you entertain guests in your living room. Following the glamorous mid-century look of other cl...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Vintage Chinese Chinoiserie Hand Painted Luggage Coffee Table Lots Storage Space
Located in GB
We are delighted to this lovely vintage circa 1900 Chinese chinoiserie luggage chest coffee table A good looking and decorative piece, the finish is sublime, this is art furniture...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture

Materials

Wood

Willy Rizzo Lacquered, Smoked Glass Coffee Table, Italy, for Sabot, circa 1970
By Sabot, Willy Rizzo
Located in New York, NY
A Willy Rizzo floating square coffee table in burl wood and lacquer with chrome trim with smoked glass inset top. The sides slide open to reveal storage, originally used for a bar. ...
Category

Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Modern Burl Wood Milo Baughman Style Column Pedestal Display Stand
By Milo Baughman
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman style display pedestal column. Tall square base is wrapped in Laminate resembling a faux tortoise or faux burl wood. A sturdy piece for displaying a ...
Category

Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Laminate, Wood

Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Lacquer Coffee Table or Low Table
Located in London, GB
An early 20th century Chinese lacquer coffee table or low table finely decorated with figures, pagodas, boats and birds on a black ground, within a border of russet red; raised on sq...
Category

Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Lacquered Wood Screen - Black and Orange - Art Deco style (Customizable)
By Dmitry Samygin
Located in Paris, FR
Screen by Russian artist Dmitry Samygin Poplar plywood and beech veneered carved and lacquered Measure: 170 cm x 180 cm x 2 cm (67 x 71 x 0.8 in). Customizable -- After studying A...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Screens and Room Dividers

Materials

Beech

Chinese Mother of Pearl Inlaid Lacquered Box
Located in New York, NY
Chinese mother of pearl inlaid lacquered rectangular box, depicting in landscape, circa late 19th-early 20th century. Measures: 3.5" H x 9.75" W x 5.75" D. Losses to inlay and cracks...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Boxes

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

19th Century Black Lacquer and Gilt Low Table with Cabriole Legs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning black lacquer and gilt Chinese low table. The top of the table exhibits extremely fine painted landscape scenes while the frieze and legs are decorated with gold meanders ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Wooden Dresser
Located in Pasadena, CA
Vintage wooden Dresser. Light brown wooden colors finish with Dupont furniture polish. At a certain time in the early 20thc Dupont s slogan was that in which the furniture di not hav...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Wood

Mid Century  Wooden Dresser
Mid Century  Wooden Dresser
H 21 in W 34 in D 45.5 in
Maison Lancel Cocktail or Coffee Table Bar
By Maison Lancel
Located in Geneva, CH
Brass and formica bar sliding coffee table in the style of Willy Rizzo Produced by Maison Lancel, ca. 1970s Good condition  
Category

Vintage 1970s French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Maison Lancel Cocktail or Coffee Table Bar
Maison Lancel Cocktail or Coffee Table Bar
H 14.97 in W 47.25 in D 27.56 in
French Grandfather Tall Case Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19th Century Grandfather Clock is decorated with hand-painted, gold leaf chinoiserie. The black lacquer case with gilded and painted Scottish landscapes; where the sheep are gra...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Chinoiserie Grandfather Clocks and Lon...

Materials

Gold Leaf

French Grandfather Tall Case Clock
French Grandfather Tall Case Clock
H 95 in W 18 in D 11 in
Willy Rizzo Black Lacquer and Chrome Bar Coffee Table, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Willy Rizzo Black Lacquer and Chrome Bar Coffee Table from the 1970s is a chic and distinctive vintage piece. Designed by Willy Rizzo, it combines black lacquer and chrome elemen...
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Chrome

Modern Chinoiserie Cocktail Table
Located in Nashville, TN
Featured is a well made black lacquered Chinoiserie style cocktail table. The item is hand-painted with gilt accents of a garden pond scene of butterfly's, dragon fly's, bees, grassh...
Category

2010s Unknown Chinoiserie Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Modern Chinoiserie Cocktail Table
Modern Chinoiserie Cocktail Table
H 18 in W 44.75 in D 34.75 in
Swedish Black Lacquered and Gilt Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock, Lanner, Circa 1775
By Josua Lanner
Located in Hollywood, SC
Swedish black lacquered and gilt Chinoiserie tall case clock with arched decorative floral hood, flanking finials, turned bulbous columns, ormolu and steel engraved face, figural flo...
Category

Antique 1770s Swedish Gustavian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Steel

Recent Sales

Guy Lefevre Brass & Laquer Coffee Table
By Guy Lefevre
Located in Geneva, CH
Brass bucket and inlay on bronze shades laquer coffee table by Guy Lefevre, produced by Ligne Roset
Category

Vintage 1970s French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Guy Lefevre Brass & Laquer Coffee Table
Guy Lefevre Brass & Laquer Coffee Table
H 15.75 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Large white laquer Coffee Table
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Large square coffee table, done in white lacquer with steel legs.
Category

Vintage 1970s American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Steel

Large white laquer Coffee Table
Large white laquer Coffee Table
H 14 in W 47 in D 47 in
Tommi Parzinger Black Lacquer & Rattan Coffee Table
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional rare Tommi Parzinger matte black laquer coffee table with a rattan wrapped lower shelf
Category

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

Materials

Rattan, Glass

Large Square Black Laquer and Mirrored Coffee Cocktail Table
By James Mont
Located in Hopewell, NJ
The impressive large square coffee table in the style of James Mont having a fabulous black
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Lacquer, Mirror

Chinoiserie & Brass Red Laquer Square Coffee Table Attributed to Mastercraft
By Mastercraft
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous Mastercraft (attributed) coffee table, featuring gorgeous chinoiserie hand
Category

20th Century American Chinoiserie Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Chinese Black Laquer Low Table
Located in Hudson, NY
The top inset with an antique lacquer panel, decorated with floral sprays.
Category

20th Century Chinese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Lacquer

Chinese Black Laquer Low Table
Chinese Black Laquer Low Table
H 17 in W 56 in D 28 in
Rare French table with Coromandel laquer top
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
French giltwood table with Coromandel laque on top, four sculpted feet with cross piece
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XIV Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Rare French table with Coromandel laquer top
Rare French table with Coromandel laquer top
H 25.2 in W 33.47 in D 21.66 in
Coffee Table by Romeo Paris
By Romeo Paris
Located in London, GB
Cubed coffee table. Attri. Romeo. Paris. Glass, mirror, laquer
Category

20th Century French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Coffee Table by Romeo Paris
Coffee Table by Romeo Paris
H 14.97 in W 43.31 in D 43.31 in
Asian style Bone Coffee table
Located in North Miami, FL
An asian style bone coffee table. Probably by Karl Springer. The laquer has been removed and the
Category

American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Bone

Asian style Bone Coffee table
Asian style Bone Coffee table
H 18 in W 48 in D 30 in
German Art Deco Bauhaus Coffee Table 1925
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
German Art Deco Bauhaus Coffee Table 1925 Original art deco table from the german bauhaus era
Category

Early 20th Century German Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Gold Leaf

Bone Coffee Table in the Karl Springer Style
Located in North Miami, FL
A great natural bone coffee table in the Karl Springer style. Piece has had the laquer removed
Category

Vintage 1970s Colombian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Bone, Wood

Papier Mache table
Located in Bronx, NY
Papier mache table with chinoiseries decorations and black laquer exist also in smaller size
Category

Vintage 1930s French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

19th c. Chinoiserie Lacquer Low Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
Red Laquer Table with Gilded Accents
Category

Antique 19th Century French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

19th c. Chinoiserie Lacquer Low Table
19th c. Chinoiserie Lacquer Low Table
H 16 in W 56 in D 18.5 in
Antique Low Table In Original Paint Patina
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Low Table In Original Paint Patina. Heavy laquer coating for a transitional feel.
Category

Vintage 1930s Asian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Glass Coffee Table
Located in Paris, FR
Fantastic round Mid-Century 1970s coffee table with white base structure in white resin and yellow
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Mid-Century Glass Coffee Table
Mid-Century Glass Coffee Table
H 11.82 in Dm 38.98 in
Art Deco Coffee Table, France, 1935
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Art Deco coffee table, France, 1935. Full restored in high gloss laquer with gold leaf details
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Gold Leaf

Polished Brass and Glass Coffee or Cocktail Table
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1970s polished brass and glass coffee or cocktail table. Consist of a black laquer base that has
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Pair of Delft Blue Stools or Tables
Located in Baambrugge, NL
as a stool or a little table for your cup of coffee or book. One of the stools has an older
Category

Antique 19th Century French Arts and Crafts Stools

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Pair of Delft Blue Stools or Tables
Antique Pair of Delft Blue Stools or Tables
H 15.36 in W 14.18 in D 14.18 in
Reproduction Laquer Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
# G402 - Handmade black lacquer reproduction coffee tray table. The scallop shaped and removable
Category

20th Century American Rococo Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Reproduction Laquer Coffee Table
Reproduction Laquer Coffee Table
H 18 in W 35 in D 21 in
Japanese lacquer coffee table
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese laquer coffee table circa 1930's. Tysho period. Red laquer top, black laquer base.
Category

Vintage 1930s Japanese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Japanese lacquer coffee table
Japanese lacquer coffee table
H 13 in W 47.5 in D 35.75 in
Paul McCobb single Drawer black laquer Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
Paul McCobb single drawer Planner Group coffee table restored to perfection in a hand rubbed black
Category

Vintage 1950s American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Lacquer, Maple

Oversized Laquer & Brass Coffee Table By Mastercraft
By Mastercraft
Located in Finchley, London
Incredible square oversized coffee table with brass inlaid detail in top with solid brass legs and
Category

Vintage 1960s American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

XIXth Century Chinese Coffee table with Old Laquer
Located in Paris, FR
Very rare Chinese low table with old laquer traces remaining on the top. Incredible patina in the
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Art Deco Style Coffee Table in High Laquer Wood
Located in East Hampton, NY
Beautiful coffee table in the classic Art Deco style. Features bi-level shelves in glass for
Category

Vintage 1950s American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass

Fornasetti Coffee table with laquer and brass base by Gio Ponti
Located in Macclesfield, Cheshire
Lovely Piero Fornasetti coffee table with a laquer and brass base designed by Gio Ponti. The top
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

pair of chinese laquer and stone tables
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
pair of chinese and laquer tables with stone inset top
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Stone

A Chinese Style Low Table with an Antique Laquer Panel
Located in New York, NY
A Chinese Style Low Table, Incorporating an Antique 18th Century Chinese Lacquer Panel, Featuring a
Category

Vintage 1950s French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Round Chinese Coffee Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Round Chinese Coffee Table in a Black Laquer.
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Round Chinese Coffee Table
Round Chinese Coffee Table
H 19.25 in Dm 43 in
Willy Rizzo Coffee Table
Located in Brussels, BE
A squared laquer dark brown coffee table with internal polished steel liner by the Italian Willy
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Steel

Willy Rizzo Coffee Table
Willy Rizzo Coffee Table
H 13.78 in W 47.25 in D 47.25 in
Pierre Vandel Coffee Table
Located in Cambridgeshire, GB
Pierre Vandel coffee table, the metal frame of cream laquer inlaid with gold banding housing two
Category

Late 20th Century Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Pierre Vandel Coffee Table
Pierre Vandel Coffee Table
H 15.75 in W 49.22 in D 29.53 in
Red Laquered Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
Red laquer background containing a raised figure genre scene.
Category

Early 20th Century English Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Red Laquered Coffee Table
Red Laquered Coffee Table
H 18 in W 43 in D 26.5 in
Coffee Table by Pierre Vandel
Located in Cambridgeshire, GB
Large coffee table by Pierre Vandel, the gilt aluminium frame with squared legs of brass and black
Category

Late 20th Century French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Coffee Table by Pierre Vandel
Coffee Table by Pierre Vandel
H 15.75 in W 50.4 in D 30.71 in
Pierre Paulin Coffee Table Elysée
By Pierre Paulin
Located in Paris, FR
Coffee table Elysée designed by Pierre Paulin in 1973 and edited by Alpha international. Cast
Category

Vintage 1970s French Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Hand-Carved Wood Bench, White Laquer, Africa, Cameroon, Carved on Both Sides
Located in Miami, Miami Design District, FL
No nails, no glue, carved on bothsides from an African treetrunk. There is a companion table also
Category

Vintage 1960s Cameroonian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Olive Root Burled Coffee Table
Located in Treasure Island, CA
Probably a Milo Baughman design, quality thick laquer original finish. Fabulous "boxy" lines and
Category

Vintage 1970s American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Olive Root Burled Coffee Table
Olive Root Burled Coffee Table
H 15.5 in W 35 in D 35 in
Signed Antonio Pavia Acrylic & Lacquer Coffee Table
Located in Southfield, MI
Superb and rare to find Antonio Pavia black laquer, acrylic and brass coffee table with inset
Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Asian style coffee table with black lacquer finish
Located in New York, NY
Asian style coffee table with black laquer & gilt finish. Origianlly purchased from D&D Showroom
Category

20th Century American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Paint

Art Deco Red Laquered Coffee Table on Metal Ball Feet
Located in Castenray, NL
Beautyful coffee table in red laquer, created in the thirties in France. This table has been
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Iron

Pair of Chinese Black Lacquer Occasional Tables
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Chinese Black Laquer Occasional Tables with Inset Stone Tops, Modern
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Lacquer

J. Robert Scott Ming Style Coffee Table
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Ming Style coffee table linen wrapped with laquer finish inset with glass top with beveled edge.
Category

Late 20th Century American Tables

Materials

Linen, Glass

Harvey Probber CoffeeTable
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Rare coffee table by Harvey Probber. Ebonized mahogany edge and legs, brass fittings. Top is
Category

Vintage 1950s American Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

Harvey Probber CoffeeTable
Harvey Probber CoffeeTable
H 14.75 in W 60 in D 32 in
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Laquer Coffee Table For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal laquer coffee table for your home. A laquer coffee table — often made from wood, metal and brass — can elevate any home. There are many kinds of the laquer coffee table you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 19th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A laquer coffee table, designed in the Mid-Century Modern or Rococo style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made laquer coffee table over the years, but those crafted by Guy Lefevre and Mastercraft are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Laquer Coffee Table?

A laquer coffee table can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $4,200, while the lowest priced sells for $956 and the highest can go for as much as $8,700.

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 Laquer Coffee Table
  • 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 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024
    The best height for a coffee table is around 1 to 2 inches lower than the seat height of the adjacent sofa. Most sofas feature seat heights of around 17 or 18 inches. As a result, the most common height for coffee tables is 15 to 17 inches. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of coffee tables.
  • 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 26, 2021
    Tray top coffee tables are coffee tables with long, flat rectangular surfaces that are supported by an x-frame base. Low tables that were initially used as tea or coffee tables have been around since at least the mid- to late-1800s. After coffee drinking and “coffee breaks” became popular, it didn’t take long for coffee and cocktail tables to become a design staple and for consumers to recognize their role in entertaining no matter what beverages were being served. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary tray top coffee tables from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Styling a Noguchi coffee table really depends on the space you’re placing it in. The possibilities are far-reaching, so consider the colors and coordination of the other furniture and fixtures around the table. Noguchi tables look beautiful on their own or styled with flowers, books or pottery. Shop a selection of Isamu Noguchi pieces on 1stDibs.