Tray Tables
19th Century English Antique Tray Tables
Hardwood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Glass, Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Tray Tables
Wood, Paper
19th Century French Antique Tray Tables
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Chrome
1930s Italian Vintage Tray Tables
Mirror
19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Tray Tables
Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Aluminum
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1940s French Vintage Tray Tables
1920s Great Britain (UK) Vintage Tray Tables
Mid-20th Century Chinese Hollywood Regency Tray Tables
Brass
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Tray Tables
Wood, Paper
19th Century English Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Tin
21st Century and Contemporary American Tray Tables
Lacquer, Wood
19th Century English Antique Tray Tables
Hardwood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Teak
Early 20th Century French Tray Tables
Walnut
19th Century English Antique Tray Tables
Silver
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Tray Tables
Hardwood
1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
19th Century Chinese Antique Tray Tables
Wood
1960s American Vintage Tray Tables
Chrome, Brass, Steel
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Walnut
1940s English Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Tray Tables
Brass, Iron
1830s English Victorian Antique Tray Tables
Paper
1830s Italian Antique Tray Tables
Metal
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Tray Tables
Tôle
Mid-20th Century Louis XV Tray Tables
Brass, Bronze
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Metal, Brass
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Teak, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tray Tables
Pine
Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Tray Tables
Metal, Steel
1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Chrome, Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Bentwood
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Bamboo, Cane, Leather, Wood
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Tray Tables
Wood
1880s Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Tray Tables
Hardwood
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1950s Moroccan Moorish Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
2010s French Tray Tables
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Wood
20th Century Tray Tables
Wicker
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Metal
1930s French Vintage Tray Tables
Rattan
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Plywood
1810s British Georgian Antique Tray Tables
Mahogany
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Tray Tables
Metal
Late 20th Century Austrian Tray Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Tray Tables
Chrome
1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage 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.