Tray Tables
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Tray Tables
Softwood, Lacquer, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Tray Tables
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Tray Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Spanish Moorish Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Tray Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Silver Plate, Brass
Late 20th Century Campaign Tray Tables
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tray Tables
Chrome
Late 19th Century Moroccan Moorish Antique Tray Tables
Brass
1960s Japanese Vintage Tray Tables
Resin
Mid-20th Century French Art Nouveau Tray Tables
Ormolu
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tray Tables
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
2010s Tray Tables
Leather
2010s Japanese Tribal Tray Tables
Wood
1960s Italian Vintage Tray Tables
Aluminum
1880s Chinese Qing Antique Tray Tables
Mother-of-Pearl, Teak
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Tray Tables
Other
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Ironstone
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tray Tables
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Laminate, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Tray Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tray Tables
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
1960s American Chinoiserie Vintage Tray Tables
Bamboo, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Teak
20th Century Chinoiserie Tray Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
20th Century British British Colonial Tray Tables
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Lucite, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Tray Tables
Brass
Early 2000s Italian Tray Tables
Plastic
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary American Chinoiserie Tray Tables
Wood
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Metal, Nickel
1970s French Neoclassical Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
2010s Italian Tray Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
Early 19th Century Georgian Antique Tray Tables
Mahogany
2010s Italian Tray Tables
Leather
Mid-19th Century English Antique Tray Tables
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Tray Tables
Hardwood
2010s Italian Modern Tray Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Colonial Revival Tray Tables
Wicker, Cane, Rattan, Wood
Late 19th Century European Black Forest Antique Tray Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Indian Islamic Tray Tables
Copper
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Queen Anne Tray Tables
Mahogany
20th Century British British Colonial Tray Tables
Brass
Antique and Vintage Tray Tables
The popularity of antique and vintage tray tables owes mostly to the 1950s, when the first TV dinners made their way into the freezers of American kitchens.
At a time when televisions were increasingly becoming fixtures in the living rooms of most homes in the United States, the tray table was impossibly convenient. With a deft merging of function and style, the table, positioned in front of your sofa or plush armchair, was a place to rest your Swanson-brand TV dinner, a compartmentalized supper issued on a disposable tray that required minimal preparation. The technological advances of the mid-century kitchen included programmable ovens, so TV dinners were quick and easy, particularly when home-cooked meals were out of the question.
When one had finished the last bite of this square meal, which was packed into sections that assumed various geometric shapes in their own partitioned aluminum tray, the tray table could be easily folded up and tucked away until needed again.
Eventually, designers took to exploring iterations of the widely loved tray table that would better suit household needs. Once a simple, foldable furnishing that was confined to use at mealtime, tray tables are now somewhat of a budget-friendly design staple for many households. Today, tray tables are as versatile as ever, and such a wide range has been manufactured over the years that you’re likely to find a good fit no matter what your furniture style preferences might be.
Tray tables are used as side tables, nightstands, a bar tray when your space won’t accommodate that handsome vintage bar cart you’ve been looking for and desks, particularly as many of us are working from home and especially when a modest-sized apartment won’t allow for larger tables.
Tray tables vary in style, shape and size. When looking for a tray table, you should measure accordingly and ensure that wherever it will land in your space there will be room around the table to allow for easy movement.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique and vintage tray tables that includes mid-century modern tray tables, Art Deco versions and more.