In the earliest American homes dinning, like almost all aspects of family life, took place in a multipurpose room variously termed a "common room", a "great hall" (or hall), or "keeping room". Life was hard, and home entertaining as we know it was unknown to the common man.

A prosperous farmer or merchant, or a soldier ate and drank "socially" at inns or taverns. Family meals in a room specifically furnished for and designated as the dinning room did not reach the yeoman or working class until the late 19th century Victorian decades. But additions built onto houses in the 18th century were a major step toward the civilizing contribution of rooms designed for specific purposes. As these homes became larger, dinning rooms and dinning room furniture became more common.

Early American tables made for dinning, in the so-called Pilgrim period, tended to be two or three large boards (six feet or longer) on a stretcher base, with lathe turned legs and feet. This communal dinning table has been continued as the HARVEST TABLE, sometimes with a sawbuck or X-trestle base.

Smaller, round, oval, horizontal and even triangular corner tables were developed in the late 17th and early 18th century. The oval drop-leaf dinning table of the Queen Anne period comfortably seats eight, and is highly favored because of its graceful cabriole legs and pad feet. During the Chippendale period the smaller drop-leaf Pembroke table became popular. The style of the Federal period, with its tapering legs and simple table forms was popular with country craftsmen and many good pieces have survived. Late 19th century and early 20th century round oak tables, often with dramatic paw feet, are another form popular with collectors. (Country Antiques and Collectibles, edited by Carter Smith)

Inventory turns around quickly. What you see today in our store can be in someone's kitchen by tomorrow.

Big and small, round and square, 10 FT or longer, we carry over two dozen sets of classic farm tables and harvest tables, as well as sets of chairs, in cherry, walnut, mahogany, maple and birch. Plank seats, cane seats, rush seats, splint seats, upholstered, carved, colonial, Victorian, too numerous to mention them all. Come on in today to pick it out and pick it up! We deliver in New England from Maine to Washington DC and we ship via Atlas, Mayflower, United, North American and others all over the continental USA. All sales & deliveries are pre-negociated as well as the delivery times. You may qualify for FREE delivery. Give us a call!