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A Brief History of Pedestal Tables and the Amish

The Amish have ensured that the ever popular and functional pedestal table is obtainable for your modern home; as a smaller end or accent table and as a large formal dining room table. The pedestal table has a rich history of design and purpose and is still crafted from American hardwoods and stained to custom blend into your home’s décor. Thanks to Amish craftsmen there is a pedestal table just right for your room.

In varying styles, pedestal tables first appeared in the late 18th century. The pedestal design has remained in fashion ever since. The pedestal was originally designed for smaller rooms and to give an air of status. They were popular because of their functionality and almost all homes had one in some form. Just like today they could be put to use in an elegant dining room or as a gaming table for friends and family to gather around. In smaller accent versions they were used for writing or for displaying lamps or flowers.

Pedestal bases have ranged from single columns to fanciful, ornately scrolled, indulgences. Each designer and style seemed to create its own signature of pedestal base. Their commonality is a single leg or central supporting column or pillar, attached under the center of the table top. From multi-point bases to rounded bun designs the pedestal table is still in vogue in Amish dining and livingroom furniture today.

Pedestal tables can vary in geometry from the side-less round to four-sided oblong to multi-edged octagons. King Arthur was famed for his round table, giving equality to all since it did not host the traditional head of the table that rectangular dining room tables did. Since the focal point of a pedestal draws your eye to the center the tops of pedestal tables have traditionally been visually pleasing. Artisans of wood have either selected woods with beautiful grains and rays like the quarter sawn oak or veneered or inlaid the tops. Some pedestal tables even had tilting tops to be able to store it against a wall. Some tops even included drawers on their sides to store writing implements or gaming devises.

The Amish woodworkers customize and build pedestal tables from selected hardwoods for every room in your home. The Amish are artisans who understand that the pedestal table is a classic design of form and function that will enhance your progressive home. The Amish have kept alive design styles from throughout the centuries offering Arts and Crafts Mission, double based pedestals in contemporary or retro design, contemporary Stanton and glass topped Yorkshire. Pedestal tables created in woods and stains to fit every home and accompanying chair design are all made by the Amish with care.

Tags: AMISH, Amish Furniture, DINING ROOM TABLES, furniture history, hardwood furniture, pedestal tables, round tables

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 at 6:01 am and is filed under Amish Furniture, Custom Dining Room Tables, History of Furniture Making, Solid Wood Furniture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.