Antiques’ definitions: occasional tables
Occasional tables are pieces of furniture that have a smooth flat top and are supported by a base or one single pedestal leg or more, typically 4, sometimes 3 (tripod), 5, 6 or more vertical supports.
They serve the purpose of supporting household and collectible items in many different areas of a home.
They can be placed against a wall, consol tables (or consolle tables) and side tables, in front of a couch and armchairs, coffee tables, cocktails or sofa tables, or to the side, end tables, or scattered in various areas and corners, corner tables and so on…
Their purpose is often also decorative as they can be made of rare woods and inlaid, carved and ornamented, nicely finished and polished.
Groups of smaller occasional tables that can variously fit in each other and be pulled out for the occasion, are nesting tables (in North America, nests of tables in England) and they usually slide into each other.
Occasional tables in modern times can be found also as a replacement for the traditional bedside cabinet, that is not required for holding a chamber pot any longer.
They can have drawers and compartments, undertiers, and other details.
In brief, occasional tables are the smaller and most versatile tables in a home.
