In Search Of The Antique Coffee Table

Have you ever wondered where the term antique coffee table originated? That little piece of furniture that usually sits in the middle of your living room; for some it can get cluttered with most things other than coffee oriented objects while for others, it's a great place to put your feet on when watching your favorite television program. So why is it called an antique coffee table?

Did You Know?

It wasn't until the twentieth century that coffee tables really came into vogue so it begs the question; how do you define an antique coffee table? It seems most of the early tables were so designed to match the surrounding lounge furniture and were of wood design.

Many antique coffee tables today are just that, antique dining room tables with shorter legs and those can still be considered antiques since the table, other than the length of the legs, is still in its original form. These tables come in different sizes, shapes and styles as varied as the original tables from which they have been converted.

How Do You Determine An Antique Coffee Table?

One of the tricks to finding an antique coffee table is to first be sure it qualifies as an antique. While all antique furniture is usually aged, not all old furniture can be considered antique. It could be simply that some boards thrown together with legs attached. Craftsmanship plays a big part.

Hand-hewn joints should be solid without gaps and the boards on the top should be tightly fitted, again with no gaps. Legs on most antique coffee tables are held on with dowels and glue, not nails or metal brackets. If your table has a drawer, the guides will also be made of wood if it is a true antique coffee table.

Should A Worn Surface Be Re-Worked?

While many antique experts will tell you that refinishing could reduce the value of a piece, there are times, in most cases, some refinishing will be necessary. If the surface is dull and well worn, removing the old finish can be done without jeopardizing the value of the antique coffee table.

The use of a non-chemical varnish remover, available through most do-it-yourself outlets, in conjuction with zero course steel wheel, often times the varnish can be removed and the bare wood finely smoothed in preparation of the application of a new finish. The replacement parts of an antique coffee table should be left to the experts with the experience and ability to make any new pieces required and to match the original craftsmanship.

There is always the possibility that the value of an antique coffee table can be diminished with the restoration work performed on it but when you stack this up against the fact that that value is already in jeopardy because of the poor condition it's in, then the re-working is usually a good idea. In the main, antique coffee tables are valuable only usually to the eye of the beholder and depending on where they originated from, will determine their intrinsic value.