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Tray Tables

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Tray Tables For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1920s
1885 DATED ANTiQUE WALNUT HARDWOOD CHESSBOARD FOLDING GAMES CHESS TRAY TABLE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super collectable hand made in England 1885 dated folding cards Chessboard games table with removable tray top Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price A very good looking and decorative table, it has some truly sublime inlay to the top, there is a very ornate chess board as you can see, to the right its dated 1885 under what looks like a family's initials crest, to the left a floral design, this is all marquetry inlay and looks exquisite! The top removes and flips over which shows a flamed mahogany drinks or snacks serving...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Tray Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Walnut

1885 DATED ANTiQUE WALNUT HARDWOOD CHESSBOARD FOLDING GAMES CHESS TRAY TABLE
1885 DATED ANTiQUE WALNUT HARDWOOD CHESSBOARD FOLDING GAMES CHESS TRAY TABLE

1885 DATED ANTiQUE WALNUT HARDWOOD CHESSBOARD FOLDING GAMES CHESS TRAY TABLE

Chinese Lacquer Tray Table
Located in Stamford, CT
An oval CHinese lacquer tray mounted on a later stand. The tray depicts daily life in 19th century China with figures of musicians and river vendors.
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Tray Tables

Materials

Wood

Chinese Lacquer Tray Table
Chinese Lacquer Tray Table

Chinese Lacquer Tray Table

Antique Sheraton Revival Victorian Restored Maple & Co Elevette Drinks Table
By Maple & Co.
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this wonderful Victorian circa 1860-1880 Sheraton Revival Satinwood Elevette drinks table made and stamped by Maple & Co London What a table! Th...
Category

1860s English High Victorian Antique Tray Tables

Materials

Satinwood

Antique Sheraton Revival Victorian Restored Maple & Co Elevette Drinks Table
Antique Sheraton Revival Victorian Restored Maple & Co Elevette Drinks Table

Antique Sheraton Revival Victorian Restored Maple & Co Elevette Drinks Table

French 2nd Empire Gilded Marble Tray Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French, 2nd Empire, gilded table base featuring cast eagles, holding a beautiful Nero Portoro marble tray.
Category

1850s French Antique Tray Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal

French 2nd Empire Gilded Marble Tray Table
French 2nd Empire Gilded Marble Tray Table

French 2nd Empire Gilded Marble Tray Table

19th Century Inlaid Satinwood Tray on (Stand made later)
Located in Richmond, Surrey
19th Century Satinwood Kidney Shaped Inlaid Tray on stand. The inlay shows ribbons, bows, scrolls, garlands of flowers. Around the edge there is a brass gallery & carrying handles. T...
Category

19th Century English Edwardian Antique Tray Tables

Materials

Satinwood

19th Century Inlaid Satinwood Tray on (Stand made later)
19th Century Inlaid Satinwood Tray on (Stand made later)

19th Century Inlaid Satinwood Tray on (Stand made later)

Gilt Bronze Mounted Marquetry Two-Tier Table by Edwards & Roberts
By Edwards & Roberts
Located in London, GB
This beautiful table was created in England in the Victorian period by the acclaimed cabinetmakers, Edwards & Roberts. The company were based in London, where they established a name for themselves creating fine quality, fashionable pieces in 18th and 19th century English and French styles. This two-tiered table — with its elegant cabriole legs and wonderful floral marquetry designs — is a prime example of fine Edwards & Roberts furniture. The table is supported on four curving cabriole legs, which are set on scrolling gilt bronze feet and mounted with gilt bronze grotesque...
Category

Late 19th Century English Rococo Antique Tray Tables

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Gilt Bronze Mounted Marquetry Two-Tier Table by Edwards & Roberts
Gilt Bronze Mounted Marquetry Two-Tier Table by Edwards & Roberts

Gilt Bronze Mounted Marquetry Two-Tier Table by Edwards & Roberts

Mid-19th Century French Folding Presentation Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This presentation table boasts an industrial yet delicate appeal with its foldable X-shaped metal base and gray painted wooden top. Originally used for displaying models or sculpture...
Category

1840s French Country Antique Tray Tables

Materials

Wood

Mid-19th Century French Folding Presentation Table
Mid-19th Century French Folding Presentation Table

Mid-19th Century French Folding Presentation Table

A Louis XV Style Lacquered Tray-Top Table By Henry Dasson
By Henry Dasson
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bois Satiné and Lacquered Tray-Top Table, by Henry Dasson. This elegant table is inset to the top with a lacquered tray decorated with a s...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Tray Tables

Materials

Ormolu

A Louis XV Style Lacquered Tray-Top Table By Henry Dasson
A Louis XV Style Lacquered Tray-Top Table By Henry Dasson

A Louis XV Style Lacquered Tray-Top Table By Henry Dasson

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.

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