False The dining table has been the centre of the home for several centuries as the place for dining, entertaining and working. It is arguably the social centre of the home. The function of the table has changed little over time, and many tables that have lasted over the centuries are made from oak. In Medieval and early Tudor times, dining tables were no more than long planks of wood resting on trestles. Elizabethan society brought more structure, and the Refectory table was born. Often carved with fluted bulbous or cup and cover legs, with rails and stretchers, the Refectory table remains popular today. Dining tables still needed to be adaptable, and were made so by means of draw leaves. As the numbers of smaller houses increased in the 17th century, so the need grewfor even more adaptable furniture. Folding tables, including gateleg and drop- leaf tables became fashionable. By the mid Georgian period, dining tables in which additional leaves could be inserted to extend the length were supported on central pedestals with three or four feet. A popular choice for those wishing to accommodate larger parties. DINING TABLES A Sense of Nobility

False Dining Tables PERIOD DETAIL