Gateleg Dining Table

Back in the 1600s, the gateleg dining table was invented. It is actually an antique table type which is made from wood with an extension option. The gate leg table has many legs which are supported by horizontal stretchers to keep the structure steady. It is a multi-purpose table that allows you to adjust its tabletop size.  

In other words, it is convertible in size. The dropleaf table would be its cousin because they have the same feature, dropped leaves. The only difference is gateleg tables appear to have a gate-like appearance due to the lower structure of the table. Hence, the lower structure is referred to as gate legs.

Gate legs provide support and strength to the table design and the 2 side leaves. There are 2 drop leaves on the left and right. Most of the time, these drop leaves are shaped like 2 semi circles. In the center, this is a flat and straight rectangular surface.

3 Positions

Both leaves down (small)

If you need to convert the it to a smaller, console or wall table, now you can. Simply let down the 2 leaves and you are left with a rectangle table in the center with a small width. You can have coffee or your favorite drinks and have a light chat with friends this way.

1 leaf up (medium)

Want to have a nice dinner for two? No problem. Simply reduce the tabletop size by dropping one leaf down and you have a smaller table.

2 leaves up (large)

In this position, the tabletop will resemble an oval shape. In this extended position, the leaves provide the biggest area for you to dine with many people.

Benefits

If you want a smaller table, you don't have to buy separate one. They give you a choice to instantly reduce the table size. Therefore, it is really a 2-in-1 table, having both the large and small table options.

Is your big dining table obstructing your path? Simply fold the 2 leaves down and you instantly have much more space to move about. This is especially useful when you need to move things or extra furniture into the dining room.

Save storage space. In the leaves-down position, you can easily store the table anywhere, including the closet. It doesn't take much space to store them.

Tips

Chances are, when wantt to buy new gateleg dining tables, you will come across many suppliers selling you second hand ones instead. This is simply because these tables are much more common in the past but less produced nowadays. Some antique tables are even few hundred years old since the 1700s era. But obviously, retailers have refurbished these old tables and ensured they are in good condition before they can sell them to you.

In order to maximize your chances of buying a used gateleg dining table, you sometimes would have to go as far as eBay or other furniture online trading network. This is because there can be many people who want to sell away their old gateleg kitchen tables. Another known source would be private auctions and local clearance sales.

When shopping for these used vintage tables, your best bet is to find out its wood type. If the table is made from a more expensive wood, it can have a higher price. Secondly, check the gateleg quality and make sure the sliding mechanism works accordingly for quality inspection. Hear out for the sound or sign of creaking noises too. Creaky noises indicate poor table quality.

Remind your kids not to step on the horizontal stretchers when sitting on a chair. This is because the stretchers simply act as joint supports for your table legs and leaves. They are not meant for legs support!

For new ones, you can try your luck in online stores and IKEA. Just don't expect to find them by the dozens. They are not that common due to the modern and minimalistic furniture concepts that are more popular at this age. Certain manufacturers have also stopped producing these tables due to their low demand. Therefore, consider yourself lucky if you could find manufacturers selling these tables on good deals.

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Back to Dining Table Guide

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