Library or Sofa table? age? wood?

Is it a library table or a sofa table? Age? Legs are pieces together in chunks, legs are my favorite part, so beautiful! I took all the old varnish off base and oiled. Top had some crappy mis matched veneer that was all peeled up, so I took that off and put a finish on what was there. 4 feet long.

 

Hi,
I always called them library tables. people use them for sofa tables. To me sofa tables that were made as sofa tables usually have plain straight legs (think Parsons). I did one two years ago. It is walnut, but had two layers of black paint, a layer of orange and one of green. Also had dozens of cigarette burns on the edges.
I found it on the curb, all nicely taken apart and stacked even the nuts were screwed onto the legs.
greg

 

Thanks Greg! Did you refinish the table you found? sound like lots of work on that one!

 

Hi Bridget,
It was a lot of work but having it in pieces made it a lot easier. Sorry it is paper covered but it is a working desk.
greg

 

I would say sofa table or console table. Library tables are usually deeper.

 

Hi Brad,
Mine has a leaf which makes it 10" wider.
greg

 

Very nice! You would never know it was painted! NOW, lets talk about that lamp!!!!!!!

 

Hi,
That lamp is so over the top. It is a Houze lamp. It is jadite and vaseline opalsencent. It originally had a big half round shade with green and yellow long fringe.
greg

 

Wow on the Lamp!

Here's the thing about sofas tables: they are meant to fit behind sofas. If they are higher than the back of the sofa it can present an awkward appearance. If one has a camelback sofa, even more so. (Tends to look like Joan Crawford's shoulder pads.)

I have a table which used to belong to my grandparents. It lived in their hallway with a monster lamp at one end with a zillion crystal dingle-dangles. It is taller than a dinner table. 'T would make an excellent sofa table were I to lop off the legs.

Just cannot do it...

 

Hi Silver,
Put it behind the sofa and just put the sofa up on blocks so it is higher than the table. Problem solved.
greg

 

Greg, dear -- thanks for the idea, but you are talking to a short person. If I raise the sofa enough, I won't be able to raise ME to get into it!

However, you have reminded me. Years ago, my parents bought an antique farm table. Only to discover that our dining chairs (antique black Hitchcocks) whacked the table edge with the arms.

They put blocks under the table legs, which then did allow the chairs to be moved into place. However, I then had a choice: eat with my chin in the dinner plate, or sit on phone books.

Those of us who are vertically challenged have these silly little problems...

 

Greg,

If yours has a leaf, it is neither a sofa or library table. I would call it a console table or serving table that converts for dining. One could certainly use it behind a sofa or in a library but with that leaf, I suspect the best use would be in the dining room as a server or in the living room as a console until ready for that extra large dinner party.

I see no one addressed the age or wood of the OP's table. Looks like poplar, circa 1925. I imagine this had a mahogany or walnut veneer and the solid parts were stained to match.

 

Hi Brad,
I should clarify. Mine did not come with a leaf. i added one since it had a slide mechanism however when I added the 10" leaf, it became unstable in that if you learned on the edge, the table would tip up on the other side. I just tried it and if I leave the opening closed to a 6" wide, the table stays stable, so perhaps a 6" leaf would be the size of choice.
The feet has the same size and shape with two deep grooves like Bridget's table, my rail is flat and Bridget's is turned. I wonder if they were made by the same company?
greg

 

Hi Silver,
Shaking my head in disbelief. The sofa would not be a problem if you got one of those little doggy stairs (so they can reach the bed). Why do I have to keep solving your problem with answers, you are a smart lady I figured you would have thought of it yourself. Goodness me.
greg

 

I don't think any table with a leaf (of any size) would be considered a sofa or library table but that is just my opinion.

I really doubt they were made by the same company. There were a lot of companies that made very similar styles.

 

Hi Brad,
Thanks for your opinion. I highly value all your comments.
greg

 

Greg. Old Dear. Here's the thing.

I sleep in a too-high brass bed into which I leap from the little footstool my grandfather made me when I was a year old. I am NOT going to leap into my sofa as well!!!

Besides which, my leaping mechanism is not as well-oiled as it used to be.