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Metamorphic Coffee Table

Antique Georgian Style Metamorphic Coffee Table / Library Steps
Antique Georgian Style Metamorphic Coffee Table / Library Steps

Antique Georgian Style Metamorphic Coffee Table / Library Steps

Located in London, GB

A charming and beautifully designed antique metamorphic coffee table / library steps. This was made

Category

Vintage 1930s British Georgian Side Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Metamorphic Table
Metamorphic Table

Metamorphic Table

$1,756

H 16.54 in W 27.17 in D 16.15 in

Metamorphic Table

Located in London, England

Metamorphic coffee table in mahogany with leather inset steps. U.K circa 1960. H 45cm/71cm x W 69cm

Category

Vintage 1960s British Edwardian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Danish Modern "Elevator" Metamorphic Coffee Table / Dining Table with Two Leaves
Danish Modern "Elevator" Metamorphic Coffee Table / Dining Table with Two Leaves

Danish Modern "Elevator" Metamorphic Coffee Table / Dining Table with Two Leaves

By Kai Kristiansen

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Danish Modern solid teak "elevator" coffee table (ca. 1960s). Easy transition converting from low

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Teak

Metamorphic Table
Metamorphic Table

Metamorphic Table

$1,751

H 22.45 in W 55.52 in D 23.63 in

Metamorphic Table

Located in London, England

Fabulous metamorphic coffee/dining table in teak. Extended dimensions - H 70cm x W 141cm x D 112cm

Category

Vintage 1960s Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Teak

Metamorphic Square Coffee Table by Alexander Lotersztain
Metamorphic Square Coffee Table by Alexander Lotersztain

Metamorphic Square Coffee Table by Alexander Lotersztain

$36,637 / item

H 7.88 in W 43.31 in D 43.31 in

Metamorphic Square Coffee Table by Alexander Lotersztain

Located in Geneve, CH

Metamorphic Square Coffee Table by Alexander Lotersztain Limited Edition. Dimensions: D 110 x W 110

Category

2010s Australian Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Marble

1950s Retro Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table  A truly ingenious table
1950s Retro Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table  A truly ingenious table

1950s Retro Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table A truly ingenious table

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

1950s Retro Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table A truly ingenious table first as a rectangular coffee

Category

Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Metal

Metamorphic 3-in-1 by John Keal for Brown Saltman
Metamorphic 3-in-1 by John Keal for Brown Saltman

Metamorphic 3-in-1 by John Keal for Brown Saltman

By Brown Saltman, John Keal

Located in Hanover, MA

Beautiful long solid walnut coffee table with slide-out folding side tables by John Keal for Brown

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Oriental Chinoiserie Coffee Table in Teak, Hand-Carved, 1920, Dual Use
Oriental Chinoiserie Coffee Table in Teak, Hand-Carved, 1920, Dual Use

Oriental Chinoiserie Coffee Table in Teak, Hand-Carved, 1920, Dual Use

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Oriental Metamorphic Fire Screen/Coffee Table A Superb expertly hand carved Coffee table which

Category

Vintage 1920s Chinoiserie Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Teak

A Vintage Metamorphic Centre / Coffee Table Circa 1960
A Vintage Metamorphic Centre / Coffee Table Circa 1960

A Vintage Metamorphic Centre / Coffee Table Circa 1960

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

An unusual metamorphic centre table in Walnut satinwood and various exotic timbers. The table

Category

Mid-20th Century Center Tables

Materials

Satinwood, Walnut

1960s Jansen Metamorphic Campaign Style Games/Coffee Table  A great 60s design
1960s Jansen Metamorphic Campaign Style Games/Coffee Table  A great 60s design

1960s Jansen Metamorphic Campaign Style Games/Coffee Table A great 60s design

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

1960s Jansen Metamorphic Campaign Style Games/Coffee Table A great 60s design coffee table which

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Card Tables and Tea Tables

Materials

Art Glass

Metamorphic Library Steps
Metamorphic Library Steps

Metamorphic Library Steps

$6,983

H 21.26 in W 35.24 in D 17.92 in

Metamorphic Library Steps

By Jonathan Sainsbury

Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset

A George III design, mahogany four-step metamorphic library coffee table, with decorative gilt

Category

21st Century and Contemporary British George III Stairs

Materials

Mahogany

Recent Sales

Marble-Top Metamorphic Coffee Table
Marble-Top Metamorphic Coffee Table

Marble-Top Metamorphic Coffee Table

Sold

H 18.25 in W 41 in D 22 in

Marble-Top Metamorphic Coffee Table

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

Marble-top metamorphic coffee table with a bronze frame, 2 glass top extensions, and casters. The

Category

20th Century Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Guillerme & Chambron Metamorphic Coffee Table, France, 1960
Guillerme & Chambron Metamorphic Coffee Table, France, 1960

Guillerme & Chambron Metamorphic Coffee Table, France, 1960

By Guillerme et Chambron

Located in Culver City, CA

Guillerme & Chambron Metamorphic coffee table, France, 1960. Adjustable carved oak coffee

Category

Vintage 1960s French Modern Center Tables

Materials

Oak

Post-Modern Metamorphic Coffee/ Dining Table
Post-Modern Metamorphic Coffee/ Dining Table

Post-Modern Metamorphic Coffee/ Dining Table

Sold

H 29.5 in W 53.5 in D 23.25 in

Post-Modern Metamorphic Coffee/ Dining Table

Located in Astoria, NY

Post-Modern Patinated Metal and Composite Metamorphic Coffee Table with capacity to transform into

Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Metal

Metamorphic Coffee Table after John Makepeace, c.1990
Metamorphic Coffee Table after John Makepeace, c.1990

Metamorphic Coffee Table after John Makepeace, c.1990

By John Makepeace

Located in Surbiton, GB

A bespoke, mahogany, fan leaf coffee table, crafted under the guidance of John Makepeace by the

Category

Vintage 1980s British Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Cleverly Designed French, Burl Wood Metamorphic Coffee Table by Paul Michel
Cleverly Designed French, Burl Wood Metamorphic Coffee Table by Paul Michel

Cleverly Designed French, Burl Wood Metamorphic Coffee Table by Paul Michel

By Paul Michel

Located in San Francisco, CA

A cleverly-designed French 1970s burl wood metamorphic coffee/cocktail table opening to reveal a

Category

Vintage 1970s French Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Rainbow of Color Mosaic Dining Table
Rainbow of Color Mosaic Dining Table

Rainbow of Color Mosaic Dining Table

Sold

H 28.35 in Dm 39.38 in

Rainbow of Color Mosaic Dining Table

Located in London, GB

in a chrome border. The chrome table leg is adjustable transforming metamorphic coffee table to a

Category

Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Glass

Paul Michel Cocktail Bar Coffee Table Burl Wood, France, 1970
Paul Michel Cocktail Bar Coffee Table Burl Wood, France, 1970

Paul Michel Cocktail Bar Coffee Table Burl Wood, France, 1970

By Paul Michel

Located in Etten-Leur, NL

. This metamorphic coffee table is cleverly designed and slides smoothly open to reveal a mirrored

Category

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

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Burl

Huge Metamorphic Hidden Sliding Drawers Alligator Leather Luggage Coffee Table
Huge Metamorphic Hidden Sliding Drawers Alligator Leather Luggage Coffee Table

Huge Metamorphic Hidden Sliding Drawers Alligator Leather Luggage Coffee Table

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely huge 130cm square metamorphic coffee table with

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Tables

Materials

Leather

Mid-Century Metamorphic Glass and Chrome Coffee Table
Mid-Century Metamorphic Glass and Chrome Coffee Table

Mid-Century Metamorphic Glass and Chrome Coffee Table

Located in Miami, FL

A versatile Mid-Century Modern metamorphic tempered glass and chrome square coffee table. A rare

Category

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

Materials

Chrome

Mid-Century Modernist Ebonized Walnut Table with Metamorphic Granite Top
Mid-Century Modernist Ebonized Walnut Table with Metamorphic Granite Top

Mid-Century Modernist Ebonized Walnut Table with Metamorphic Granite Top

Located in New York, NY

This sophisticated Mid-Century Modernist table features a stunning tabletop composed of two slabs

Category

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

Materials

Granite

Art Deco Rare Metamorphic Two Tier Walnut Cocktail Table, English, circa 1930
Art Deco Rare Metamorphic Two Tier Walnut Cocktail Table, English, circa 1930

Art Deco Rare Metamorphic Two Tier Walnut Cocktail Table, English, circa 1930

Located in Devon, England

For your consideration is this rare design Art Deco metamorphic table which can be used as an

Category

Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Metal

Metamorphic English Library Steps in Oak, circa 1850
Metamorphic English Library Steps in Oak, circa 1850

Metamorphic English Library Steps in Oak, circa 1850

Located in Charleston, SC

English oak library table/library steps

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Paul Michel Burl Wood Cocktail Coffee Table, France, circa 1970
Paul Michel Burl Wood Cocktail Coffee Table, France, circa 1970

Paul Michel Burl Wood Cocktail Coffee Table, France, circa 1970

By Paul Michel

Located in London, GB

A Paul Michel 1970s and burr walnut and ebonized metamorphic cocktail coffee table. Opens to

Category

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

Materials

Walnut, Wood

Metamorphic Dining or Coffee Table
Metamorphic Dining or Coffee Table

Metamorphic Dining or Coffee Table

Sold

H 28.5 in Dm 46.5 in

Metamorphic Dining or Coffee Table

Located in Culver City, CA

Modern dining table that is adjustable in height as well as in length. The tabletop has a very

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Metal

Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table
Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table

Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table

By Guillerme et Chambron

Located in London, GB

French, midcentury adjustable coffee to dining table, circa 1960s by design legends Guillerme et

Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Oak

Circa 1960s-70s Mid Century Modern Teak Coffee Trolley
Circa 1960s-70s Mid Century Modern Teak Coffee Trolley

Circa 1960s-70s Mid Century Modern Teak Coffee Trolley

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Circa 1960s-70s mid century modern teak metamorphic trolley coffee table, English. Multi-functional

Category

Vintage 1960s English Mid-Century Modern Carts and Bar Carts

Materials

Teak

Lovely Edwardian Brown Leather Metamorphic Library Ladder Steps Coffee Table
Lovely Edwardian Brown Leather Metamorphic Library Ladder Steps Coffee Table

Lovely Edwardian Brown Leather Metamorphic Library Ladder Steps Coffee Table

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

metamorphic library steps into a coffee table A truly sublime piece, dating to circa 1910, the finish and

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Mcintosh Tri-Form Metamorphic Twist & Turn Langthorne Nesting Tables Scotland
Mcintosh Tri-Form Metamorphic Twist & Turn Langthorne Nesting Tables Scotland

Mcintosh Tri-Form Metamorphic Twist & Turn Langthorne Nesting Tables Scotland

By A.H. McIntosh Furniture

Located in Reading, Berkshire

Mcintosh Tri-Form Metamorphic Twist & Turn Langthorne Nesting Tables Made in Kirkaldy Scotland 1960

Category

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

Materials

Teak

Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table
Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table

Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table

By Guillerme et Chambron

Located in London, GB

French, midcentury adjustable coffee to dining table, circa 1960s by design legends Guillerme et

Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Oak

Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee or Dining Table
Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee or Dining Table

Guillerme et Chambron Metamorphic Coffee or Dining Table

By Guillerme et Chambron

Located in London, GB

French, midcentury adjustable coffee to dining table, circa 1960s by design legends Guillerme et

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Center Tables

Materials

Oak

Mid Century Metamorphic Extending Teak Luggage Rack, Coffee Table
Mid Century Metamorphic Extending Teak Luggage Rack, Coffee Table

Mid Century Metamorphic Extending Teak Luggage Rack, Coffee Table

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Mid Century Metamorphic Extending Teak Luggage Rack, Coffee Table This is a good sturdy piece, it

Category

Mid-20th Century Luggage Racks

Materials

Teak

Antique Folding Library Steps Convertible Table
Antique Folding Library Steps Convertible Table

Antique Folding Library Steps Convertible Table

Located in Seattle, WA

A George III design, mahogany four-step metamorphic library coffee table, with a naturally aged

Category

Antique 1890s Edwardian Ladders

Materials

Mahogany

Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table (GMD#2520)
Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table (GMD#2520)

Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table (GMD#2520)

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Mid 20th Century Continental Wood Metamorphic Coffee Table that Converts (swivel base) to Dining

Category

20th Century Unknown Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Danish Metamorphic Coffee Table by Kia Kristiansen
Danish Metamorphic Coffee Table by Kia Kristiansen

Danish Metamorphic Coffee Table by Kia Kristiansen

By Kai Kristiansen

Located in Millwood, VA

Teak metamorphic table designed by Kai Kristensen and manufactured by Trioh in Denmark in the 1960s

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Burl wood coffee table with bar by Paul Michel for Roche Bobois 1980s
Burl wood coffee table with bar by Paul Michel for Roche Bobois 1980s

Burl wood coffee table with bar by Paul Michel for Roche Bobois 1980s

By Paul Michel

Located in Sas van Gent, NL

. This metamorphic coffee table is cleverly designed and slides smoothly open to reveal a mirrored

Category

Vintage 1980s French Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Burl

Burl wood coffee table with bar by Paul Michel for Roche Bobois 1980s
Burl wood coffee table with bar by Paul Michel for Roche Bobois 1980s

Burl wood coffee table with bar by Paul Michel for Roche Bobois 1980s

By Paul Michel

Located in Sas van Gent, NL

. This metamorphic coffee table is cleverly designed and slides smoothly open to reveal a mirrored

Category

Vintage 1980s French Post-Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Burl

Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table by Milo Baughman
Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table by Milo Baughman

Metamorphic Coffee/Dining Table by Milo Baughman

By Milo Baughman, Drexel

Located in San Francisco, CA

This is a vintage Mid-Century mahogany table by Drexel that can be used as a coffee table or raised

Category

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

Materials

Mahogany

Danish Modern "Metamorphic" Table by Trioh
Danish Modern "Metamorphic" Table by Trioh

Danish Modern "Metamorphic" Table by Trioh

Sold

H 21.75 in W 53 in D 21.5 in

Danish Modern "Metamorphic" Table by Trioh

By Trioh

Located in San Francisco, CA

This is a vintage Mid-Century teak "Metamorphic" table by Trioh, Denmark. It can be used as a

Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Teak

Midcentury Rosewood Metamorphic Elevator Coffee Dinner Table, B. C. Møbler, 60's
Midcentury Rosewood Metamorphic Elevator Coffee Dinner Table, B. C. Møbler, 60's

Midcentury Rosewood Metamorphic Elevator Coffee Dinner Table, B. C. Møbler, 60's

By B.C. Møbler

Located in Matosinhos, PT

Midcentury Rosewood Metamorphic Elevator Coffee Dinner Table, B. C. Møbler, 1960's This 1960 rare

Category

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

Materials

Rosewood

A Peter Hvidt Metamorphic Circular Low Table
A Peter Hvidt Metamorphic Circular Low Table

A Peter Hvidt Metamorphic Circular Low Table

By France & Søn, Peter Hvidt

Located in Hollywood, FL

the highly grained teak shield shaped tops over brass legs- each piece can stand alone- forming a large circle when put together- each bearing France and Co. labels

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Metamorphic Rosewood Library Steps
19th Century English Metamorphic Rosewood Library Steps

19th Century English Metamorphic Rosewood Library Steps

Located in Stamford, CT

19th century English solid rosewood library steps that fold into a table, restored with replaced

Category

Antique 19th Century Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Leather, Rosewood

A Goatskin Laquered Metamorphic Low Table, in The Manner Of Karl Springer
A Goatskin Laquered Metamorphic Low Table, in The Manner Of Karl Springer

A Goatskin Laquered Metamorphic Low Table, in The Manner Of Karl Springer

By Karl Springer

Located in Hollywood, FL

the rectangular top with rounded edges that slides over a conforming base all in goatskin in the manner of Karl Springer

Category

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

Materials

Goatskin

Heals Metamorphic Tea Trolley in Oak circa 1930 Stamped
Heals Metamorphic Tea Trolley in Oak circa 1930 Stamped

Heals Metamorphic Tea Trolley in Oak circa 1930 Stamped

By Heal's

Located in London, Greenwich

Art Deco Heals metamorphic tea trolley in oak, circa 1930. This is very rare and has the circle

Category

Vintage 1930s British Art Deco Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Oak

Vejle Stole & Møbelfabrik Midcentury Danish Metamorphic Dining or Coffee Table
Vejle Stole & Møbelfabrik Midcentury Danish Metamorphic Dining or Coffee Table

Vejle Stole & Møbelfabrik Midcentury Danish Metamorphic Dining or Coffee Table

By Vejle Stole & Møbelfabrik

Located in London, Greater London

adjustable and can function as either a dining table or coffee table. It is the perfect space saver. Not

Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Teak

Metamorphic Coffee Table by Willy Rizzo, circa 1965
Metamorphic Coffee Table by Willy Rizzo, circa 1965

Metamorphic Coffee Table by Willy Rizzo, circa 1965

By Willy Rizzo

Located in London, Greenwich

Midcentury metamorphic coffee table or drinks cabinet by Willy Rizzo, circa 1965. In late 1948

Category

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

Materials

Smoked Glass

Vintage Mid-Century Metamorphic Table
Vintage Mid-Century Metamorphic Table

Vintage Mid-Century Metamorphic Table

Sold

H 19.5 in W 51.125 in D 25.5 in

Vintage Mid-Century Metamorphic Table

Located in San Francisco, CA

This rare Mid-Century Modern teak metamorphic table can be used as a coffee table, a dining table

Category

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

Materials

Brass

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Metamorphic Coffee Table For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the metamorphic coffee table you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each metamorphic coffee table for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and hardwood. Find 26 options for an antique or vintage metamorphic coffee table now, or shop our selection of 1 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. There are many kinds of the metamorphic 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 metamorphic coffee table is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern, Modern and Scandinavian Modern styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made metamorphic coffee table over the years, but those crafted by Guillerme et Chambron, Trioh and Milo Baughman are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Metamorphic Coffee Table?

The average selling price for a metamorphic coffee table at 1stDibs is $2,770, while they’re typically $873 on the low end and $10,500 for the highest priced.

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 .

Questions About Metamorphic Coffee Table
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024
    Yes, a coffee table can be too low. Most experts recommend choosing a coffee table that is around one to two inches lower than the seat height of your sofa or loveseat. You may find it difficult to access items on the tabletop while seated if you choose a shorter table. In addition, an overly low coffee table can make a room feel cramped or unbalanced. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Sometimes, designers intentionally place ultra-low coffee tables in spaces to create a bold contrast in a large room. Feel free to break from convention when choosing a coffee table. What's most important is that the finished result appeals to you and allows you to enjoy your seating area to the fullest. Shop a wide range of antique, vintage and contemporary coffee tables on 1stDibs.
  • 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 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 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 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 ExpertAugust 26, 2024
    The difference between a center table and a coffee table is usually size. Center tables tend to be larger-sized accent tables placed in the center of seating areas. On the other hand, coffee tables are smaller tables usually positioned in front of sofas and loveseats. On 1stDibs, find a variety of center tables and coffee tables.
  • 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 ExpertOctober 7, 2024
    The difference between a coffee table and a console table is in the design. A coffee table is a low table that comes in many shapes, such as surfaces that are rectangles, squares, ovals or circles. Console tables are taller and usually have elongated shapes, such as ovals, rectangles or semicircles. Placement is another differentiator between the two types of tables. Coffee tables usually go in front of sofas and loveseats, while console tables may be placed behind a sofa or loveseat or along a wall. Find a large collection of coffee tables and console tables on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
    The difference between a side table and a coffee table is mainly in the size and shape. Coffee tables usually feature larger tops but shorter legs. People typically place them in front of a sofa or a loveseat to rest books, drinks, remote controls and other items. Side tables also store items, but they are usually positioned beside an accent chair or at the ends of a sofa or loveseat. Shop a diverse assortment of side tables and coffee 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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.