Tray Tables
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Metal, Chrome
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Minimalist Vintage Tray Tables
Plastic
1970s French Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Rattan
1970s Dutch Space Age Vintage Tray Tables
Plastic
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Lucite
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Nickel
1970s Italian Vintage Tray Tables
Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Metal
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Tray Tables
Wicker, Rattan
1970s Japanese Vintage Tray Tables
Plastic
1970s Chinese Hollywood Regency Vintage Tray Tables
Wicker
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Chrome
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
1970s Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Rattan
1970s Dutch Space Age Vintage Tray Tables
Plastic
1970s German Space Age Vintage Tray Tables
Metal
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Wood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Metal
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Teak
1970s Chinoiserie Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Metal
1970s Slovak Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Stainless Steel
1970s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Teak
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Chrome
1970s Danish Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Oak
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Lucite
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Tray Tables
Plastic
1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Tray Tables
Plastic
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Tray Tables
Steel, Brass
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Rosewood
1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Tray Tables
Plastic
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass, Steel
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Aluminum
1970s French Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Steel
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Alabaster
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass, Chrome
1970s French Hollywood Regency Vintage Tray Tables
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Vintage Tray Tables
Brass
1970s Italian 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.