What is a gateleg table?

First introduced in 16th century-England, a gateleg table is a popular kind of table that allowed for intimate dining. The tabletop of the gateleg table, which was initially round or oval versus the long tables and formal seating arrangements that preceded it, had a section that was fixed in place , while one or two sections of the surface were equipped with hinges. By design, a gateleg table could be extended so that more space could be allocated for work or for dining if needed. These hinged sections could be folded back into place on top of the fixed section or could easily be dropped down to hang vertically on their hinges when they weren’t in use. This function, which allowed the table’s drop leaves that weren’t in use to be pushed up against a wall, saved space in small homes because the table could be tucked away. Pivoted legs under the table — which formed a gate as they were joined at their tops and bottoms by crosspieces — supported the hinged sections.

What does a gateleg table mean?

“Gate” in “gateleg table” refers to the pivoted leg supports under the table that are connected at their ends by crosspieces. When raised, the table’s two drop leaves, which are usually D-shaped, are supported upon these gates. When gateleg tables originated in England in the 16th century, they were oval or round and were generally named after their shape (and weren’t yet called gateleg tables) in order to distinguish them from the long tables they’d replaced, as dining had by then been relegated to meals for the family, not an entire household and assembled guests.

What is the difference between a Gateleg table and a drop leaf table?

The difference between a gateleg table and a drop leaf table is the design of the section that you can raise to expand the piece. On a drop leaf table, the extension does not have any lower support. A gateleg table has a leg that swings out to rest beneath the extension. Find a selection of tables from some of the world's best sellers on 1stDibs.

Oak Gateleg Table

18th Century Drop Leaf Table

English Barley Twist Furniture

Drop Leaf Gateleg Mid Century

Dining Table With Barley Twist Legs

Jacobean Gateleg

Barley Twist Drop Leaf Table

Vintage 1920s English Edwardian Drop-leaf and Pembroke Tables

Materials

Oak

Recent Sales

Large Oak Gateleg Table

Unavailable

H 28.35 in W 52.37 in D 47.64 in

Large Oak Gateleg Table

Located in Salisbury, GB

A large oak gateleg table with bobbin-turned legs and original drawer, circa 1680.

Category

Antique Late 17th Century Dining Room Tables

18th Century English Oak Gateleg Table

Unavailable

H 27 in W 40 in D 36 in

18th Century English Oak Gateleg Table

Located in Stamford, CT

18th century English oak gateleg table. Please note of wear consistent with age.

Category

Antique 18th Century English Tables

Materials

Oak

17th Century Oak Gateleg Table

Unavailable

17th Century Oak Gateleg Table

Located in Bewdley, Worcestershire

A late 17th Century Oak Gateleg Table of small proportions; excellent colour and in original untouched condition; the owner's initials 'TB' are carved at the top of one of the legs.

Oak

Vintage Danish Gateleg Table in Oak Designed by Hans J. Wegner

Unavailable

H 27.56 in W 74.81 in D 35.04 in

Vintage Danish Gateleg Table in Oak Designed by Hans J. Wegner

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in Copenhagen, DK

Gateleg table in oak designed by Hans Jørgen Wegner and manufactured by Getama, Danmark.

Category

Vintage 1970s Danish Dining Room Tables

Materials

Oak

English George III Period Oak 1-Drawer Gateleg Table

Unavailable

H 30.5 in W 51 in D 41.5 in

English George III Period Oak 1-Drawer Gateleg Table

Located in West Hollywood, CA

the three piece top, when open forming an oval, above a rectangular frame having one drawer, the legs turned and ending bal feet.

Materials

Oak

Renowned Romney Green Arts and Crafts English Drop-Leaf Gateleg

Unavailable

Sold

H 30.25 in W 73.5 in D 56.5 in

Large Oak Gateleg Table

Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

A large late 17th century eight-seat oak gateleg table of a good color and patina. Attractive arched profile at each end.

Category

Antique Late 17th Century English Tables

Oak Gateleg Table from Wales

Sold

H 30 in W 88.75 in D 67 in

Oak Gateleg Table from Wales

Located in Atlanta, GA

Oak Gateleg Table from Wales- 19th Century- Large Size.

Materials

Oak

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$8,000Sale Price|50% Off

H 32 in W 46 in D 102 in

Whimsical Handcrafted Organic Studio Craft Dining Table 1974 by Ejner Pagh

By Ejner Pagh

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Whimsical handcrafted Organic Studio Craft Dining table 1974 by Woodworker Ejner Pagh. Made in USA, 1974 Solid cherry Wood Signed and dated to stretchers on each base 'Ejner C. Pagh ...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Cherry

$7,400

H 22 in Dm 31.5 in

Handcrafted Mid-Century Danish Coffee Table in Oakwood, Circa 1950

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A vintage Mid-Century modern Danish sofa, coffee table made of hand crafted polished Oakwood, in good condition. The round center table is composed with a detailed carved top support...

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sofa Tables

Materials

Oak

Charles Dudouyt 1940s French Carved Wood Partners Desk

Sold|~~$6,500~~

H 29.5 in W 58 in D 43 in

Charles Dudouyt 1940s French Carved Wood Partners Desk

By Charles Dudouyt

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Incredible wood partners desk from France, 1940s. Large rectangular top with four thick carved wood legs and ball feet. Two drawers with brass knobs on each side. Original finish sho...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

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Oak Gateleg Table For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic oak gateleg table available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, oak and hardwood, every oak gateleg table was constructed with great care. Find 144 options for an antique or vintage oak gateleg table now, or shop our selection of 1 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect oak gateleg table — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. An oak gateleg table made by Georgian designers — as well as those associated with Victorian — is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one oak gateleg table that is appealing in its simplicity, but Ercol, Goodall, Lamb, and Heighway, Ltd. and Romney Green produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Oak Gateleg Table?

Prices for an oak gateleg table start at $236 and top out at $17,200 with the average selling for $2,318.

Finding the Right Tables for You

The right vintage, new or antique tables can help make any space in your home stand out.

Over the years, the variety of tables available to us, as well as our specific needs for said tables, has broadened. Today, with all manner of these must-have furnishings differing in shape, material and style, any dining room table can shine just as brightly as the guests who gather around it.

Remember, when shopping for a dining table, it must fit your dining area, and you need to account for space around the table too — think outside the box, as an oval dining table may work for tighter spaces. Alternatively, if you’ve got the room, a Regency-style dining table can elevate any formal occasion at mealtime.

Innovative furniture makers and designers have also redefined what a table can be. Whether it’s an unconventional Ping-Pong table, a brass side table to display your treasured collectibles or a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk to add an air of nostalgia to your loft, your table can say a lot about you.

The visionary work of French designer Xavier Lavergne, for example, includes tables that draw on the forms of celestial bodies as often as they do aquatic creatures or fossils. Elsewhere, Italian architect Gae Aulenti, who looked to Roman architecture in crafting her stately Jumbo coffee table, created clever glass-topped mobile coffee tables that move on bicycle tires or sculpted wood wheels for Fontana Arte.

Coffee and cocktail tables can serve as a room’s centerpiece with attention-grabbing details and colors. Glass varieties will keep your hardwood flooring and dazzling area rugs on display, while a marble or stone coffee table in a modern interior can showcase your prized art books and decorative objects. A unique vintage desk or writing table can bring sophistication and even a bit of spice to your work life.

No matter your desired form or function, a quality table for your living space is a sound investment. On 1stDibs, browse a collection of vintage, new and antique bedside tables, mid-century end tables and more .

Questions About Oak Gateleg Table

What is a gateleg table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 29, 2020
First introduced in 16th century-England, a gateleg table is a popular kind of table that allowed for intimate dining. The tabletop of the gateleg table, which was initially round or oval versus the long tables and formal seating arrangements that preceded it, had a section that was fixed in place, while one or two sections of the surface were equipped with hinges. By design, a gateleg table could be extended so that more space could be allocated for work or for dining if needed. These hinged sections could be folded back into place on top of the fixed section or could easily be dropped down to hang vertically on their hinges when they weren’t in use. This function, which allowed the table’s drop leaves that weren’t in use to be pushed up against a wall, saved space in small homes because the table could be tucked away. Pivoted legs under the table — which formed a gate as they were joined at their tops and bottoms by crosspieces — supported the hinged sections.
What does a gateleg table mean?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 16, 2020
“Gate” in “gateleg table” refers to the pivoted leg supports under the table that are connected at their ends by crosspieces. When raised, the table’s two drop leaves, which are usually D-shaped, are supported upon these gates. When gateleg tables originated in England in the 16th century, they were oval or round and were generally named after their shape (and weren’t yet called gateleg tables) in order to distinguish them from the long tables they’d replaced, as dining had by then been relegated to meals for the family, not an entire household and assembled guests.
What is the difference between a Gateleg table and a drop leaf table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023
The difference between a gateleg table and a drop leaf table is the design of the section that you can raise to expand the piece. On a drop leaf table, the extension does not have any lower support. A gateleg table has a leg that swings out to rest beneath the extension. Find a selection of tables from some of the world's best sellers on 1stDibs.

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