Antique and Rustic Early 1800s Wooden Spanish Countryside Pay Table with Drawer

Beautifully time-worn, antique, Southern European, chestnut wood end or side table. This relatively small size antique table is a joy to look at and the history of this kind of table makes it very interesting as well. Pay tables or paying tables were initially used by tax collectors and later in time (in the latter part of the middle ages), when most cities started to have their own currency, came the need for 'money exchangers'. A lot of the first money exchangers in 'early Netherlands' came from the Italian region of Lombardy and their name for these paying tables was 'banco'. Yes, it is this where also the English word 'bank' originates from. Pretty soon these money exchangers, who mainly serviced businessmen and travelers, also started 'safekeeping' and lending money. These tables therefor are at the very root of banking and just like some banks in this day and age, some of these earliest 'bankers' did not keep enough cash in their tables to be able to pay out when clients needed their money. This sometimes would lead to a lynching whereby the table of that particular money lender would be broken into pieces. The Italian word for such a broken table...

Beautifully time worn, mid to early 18th century side table with drawer. If you are looking for a truly ancient looking and crudely stylish side table to decorate your living room or entry hall then this rare antique specimen could be flying your way soon. This relatively large size antique table is a joy to look at and this kind of Spanish countryhouse table can be used in all kinds of interiors. Both the straight lined design and the dark patina make this the ideal timeless design that will work almost everywhere. And with a few candle holders or some colorful antique or modern pieces of Southern European ceramics on top, this ancient table...

Handcrafted, hand carved and hand painted, wooden church wall console. We have sold quite a number of ecclesiastical antiques over the years, but we can't remember ever owning and s...

Elegant and practical size table for all kinds of purposes. This superb, early 1900s French table is made in the style of Louis XVI and it can be used for various purposes. However,...

Extraordinary, handcrafted antique wooden dumbwaiter table, England. This amazing quality and excellent condition table is another great example of the level of the workmanship that...

Very rare and highly decorative antique box with working lock and key. This is another one of those rare antiques that makes you realize that no matter how long you have been in thi...

An English Georgian period oak side table from the early 19th century, with single drawer, turned legs and stretchers. Born in England during the early years of the 19th century, thi...

Spanish wooden sidetable with a drawer.

18th century Spanish wooden side table with drawer.

Italian antique wooden table with lyre legs, 1800s Entirely wooden dining table with rectangular top and lyre legs. In the center of the legs the...

Large rectangular rustic table from the early 1800s in seventeenth-century style, made of chestnut wood. It features 1 large under-counter drawer and legs with turnings joined by a s...

An English Georgian period oak table from the early 19th century, with lift top and turned base. Born in England during the reign of George III, this ...