Tray Tables
1970s Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
19th Century Antique Tray Tables
Wood
1960s Indian Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1960s Italian Vintage Tray Tables
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Tray Tables
Marble, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Paint, Beech
19th Century French Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Silver
1890s English British Colonial Antique Tray Tables
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Tray Tables
Marble, Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1890s Burmese Other Antique Tray Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Tray Tables
Glass, Mahogany
1960s German Bauhaus Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Paint, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Tray Tables
Stainless Steel
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tray Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Oak
1970s American Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Tray Tables
Metal
1960s Hong Kong Moorish Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1960s Chinoiserie Vintage Tray Tables
Bamboo
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Oak
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Tray Tables
Pine
20th Century Georgian Tray Tables
Mahogany
20th Century British Regency Tray Tables
Lacquer
Late 19th Century British Regency Antique Tray Tables
Faux Bamboo
1950s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Tray Tables
Walnut
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Formica, Oak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Teak
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Metal
Early 19th Century French Antique Tray Tables
Brass
18th Century British Neoclassical Antique Tray Tables
Mahogany
19th Century Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Silver Plate
1940s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Tray Tables
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Silver Plate, Brass
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tray Tables
Wood, Paper
20th Century Edwardian Tray Tables
Wood
Late 19th Century English Edwardian Antique Tray Tables
Satinwood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Rosewood
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Silver
Early 1900s Moroccan Late Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Brass
1870s English Regency Antique Tray Tables
Hardwood
1930s Austrian Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Tray Tables
Bronze
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Metal
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Beech, Birch, Lacquer
1870s English Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Mahogany
2010s Italian Modern Tray Tables
Marble
1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Plastic
Mid-20th Century American Edwardian Tray Tables
Walnut, Paint
1950s French Neoclassical Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Oak
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.