Maybe a Regency Mahogany Butler's Tray Table...?

[Antiquities]

The last few months I've been on the hunt for some Butler Tray Tables to use in our master bedroom. I finally found one yesterday at a thrift store for $25. It isn't pretty but it has good bones so we struck a deal for $15 and off I went with my not so pretty table, confident that it would be beautiful with a little elbow grease and time.

Last night I tried finding similar tables online so that we might have a closely matched set for the bedroom. However, after a little research the closest tables I can find are Regency Mahogany Butlers Tables that far exceed my desired budget for bedroom night stands.

Here are the approximate measurements:
19" tall with the sides down
22.5" tall with the sides up

21.5" wide with the sides up
29.5" wide with the sides down

30 3/4" deep with the sides up
39.5" deep with the sides down

The hinges are brass and the screws are metal. It is fixed to a X stand and there are no identification markings anywhere on the table.

I would greatly appreciate some opinions and advice from people with knowledge on antique furniture. Do you think this is a Regency Mahogany Butler's Tray Table and if so how would go about restoring it without damaging it or reducing it's value?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

[mart]

While it is in that style,, from what I can see I believe your tray table is a reproduction from the 40`s or 50`s !! They were making repro`s of this type table even later than that !!   The hinges are rather small compared to the size of the sides,, that's what tells me it is probably a repro !!  That said however,,there is little difference as far as its style and most would not even know it was later so technically you are correct,,only difference is the year !!

[Antiquities]

Mart,

Thank you so much for your reply. The hinges were what led me to believe it was a Regency piece. The only table I could find with these same hinges was listed on an antique dealer's website for $1800.

I adore the table, so even if it is a reproduction...I couldn't be happier with it. Well, that is unless it was an original 1800's piece. 

Thanks again!

[mart]

The hinges are quite smaller and in my view do not extend as far as the older ones do to support the sides !!  They just look newer to me !! And the stand base looks very similar to a plywood from your pic !!  Yes, this could have been a later replacement but still from what I see,, I am sticking with my opinion !!  Wait and let some of the other members take a look !!  Always better to get more that one opinion !!

[Antiquities]

Here are some up close pictures of the hinges and frame.

[mart]

http://americanainteriors.com/catalog/TableT363.html

This is an example of one of the better quality repro`s !!

[Antiquities]

I stumbled across that image during my initial search but the Kittinger T363 has open fret brackets on the leg corners & my table does not. Aside from the missing open fret brackets, that table is almost identical to the one I have.

[icedgold10]

What I'm looking at is the screws.  They say older to me.  Repos tend to have the Philips head screws.

[frogpatch]

My questions would be how many boards make up the top and are there any plane or saw marks beneath. I tend to side with Mart on this. I don't see any tool marks so it is hard to say for sure. These are classics and are still being made today. I have pieces by Kling, Stickley, Hooker and Ethan Allen and all of them have slot headed screws and are all reproductions.

[Antiquities]

Thank you both for weighing in. I looked at the bottom of the table and I'm terribly embarrassed to admit that I have no idea what I'm looking for as far as plane or saw marks go. The top is made up of 11 pieces of wood total, consisting of:
4 boards for the edges
3 boards for the center cross
4 boards for the "inserts"

I do see some visable glue leaks on the underneath side of the tray, if that helps any.

Thanks again for all your help!

[Rauville]

I would agree about it probably being a reproduction, but the value of the hinges alone would make your purchase worthwhile.
http://www.muffshardware.com/butlerthsq.jpg

[mart]

I did not mean that your table is like the example in the link,,only that it is similar !! Like I said, these tables were made in the 70`s that I know of !!  Finding one from the early 1800`s would be unusual,, not impossible,,but would be unlikely !! I hope you are one of the lucky ones and yours is an earlier piece !!
But look and see if the support top is indeed a plywood type !! Look at the edge,, it will not be a solid piece of wood if it is plywood !! It will be a glued up composit and you can see it on the cut edge !!

[Antiquities]

I really appreciate it all all the advice everyone has given me. You have all been so helpful. I think it's time to start investing a little elbow grease into making my little ugly table, beautiful again.

Thank you for all your time and for being so nice. I really appreciate it.

[mart]

On the chance it is an earlier table,, do not try stripping and refinishing !!  That negates any value the table may have !! Just get some old English scratch cover, the dark oil not the lemon, and polish it !! You might find that is all you need !!  Refinishing reduces value by 50% or more !!

[Antiquities]

Thank you. I'll pick some up today. Should I clean it prior to using the Old English? If so what would you recommend I use? I hope to make this a functioning table. Will the Old English offer enough protection? Would a coat of beeswax be acceptable?