Are these considered Butler's Tables?

Do they fold up?
Look more like table light stands.

Adding:
Probably should read as
table lamp stands.
Sorry.

 

As cluttered implied, butler's tables (a/k/a butler's tray tables) generally have folding sides.

The sides are usually hinged and can stay up, but they also fold down to make what amounts to an oval, flat tabletop.

 

Just curious but . . . do any others think that at one point they had glass inserts (although I "might" be inclined to put a mirror in each depending on where I intended to use them and what I intended to place on them)?

 

As mentioned, lamp stands or tables. They are a throwback to the old candle stands. Probably did not have glass when sold but a lot of people fitted such with glass. Problem is that once something gets spilled, it usually runs under the glass. People often didn't clean properly and the table gets ruined. Have seen many an old table or dresser with glass ruined in such manner over the years. What was meant to protect the top serves as an agent for destruction in the end.

 

We didn't have the butler, but this has served many a Turkey dinner!!!!!!

 

Thank you! That is exactly what they are!

 

Totally glad you said that as I was considering adding glass to them.

 

Gorgeous!

 

A butler's table is just folding legs. The top is the butler's tray, in effect the legs are just a stand for the tray.

No permanently fixed top can possibly be a butler's table because the sole function is as a stand for the tray that the butler brings into the dining or withdrawing room with the tea things on it. The legs always fold to a flat item that can be stored discreetly till needed. Calling them tray tables would probably be better since the name is more descriptive, and it is most likely that few of them were used by actual butlers, but were bought for suburban Victorian villas with just a housekeeper or general maid of all work.

 

Af.......I see what you're saying, and now that you say it I can picture them in restaurants being just "folding legs" that the waitresses 'pop' open for their trays!!! So, mine is more of a 'tray table'? I would guess......!!! It still has served our whole family well and folds away neatly!!!! And it's MINE......all MIIIINE!!!!!!

 

A true butler's table does have folding legs. Here in the US, this is often called a butler's table as well.....

 

After years in hospitality, can't imagine not having a tray-jack - mine is over 3 feet tall, turned wood, and tucks into the coat closet when not in use...

~Cheryl