a table, especially one seating several persons, where meals are served and eaten, especially the major or more formal meals.

Walnut, mahogany and oak were the predominant timbers, but burr varieties of native woods, as well as imported exotics such as amboyna, thuya, and maple were highly sought after. The top of the tables was often embellished with floral marquetry decoration, specimen marbles, porcelain plaques, or painted decoration.

One of the best indicators of a table's age is its color and materials. In the 1600s, refectory tables were mainly made from walnut and had a lighter color. In later centuries, the favorite wool for creating these tables changed to oak, mahogany, ebony, rosewood, etc.

A few types of dining tables fall under the wood category - solid wood - softwood like Pine and hardwoods such as Oak, Walnut and Maple, and engineered or composite woods, which include plywood and MDF, which are durable and economical but will never be as strong as a hardwood.

Solid wood and quartz are two of the most durable materials to use when it comes to tabletops. Solid wood tables are renowned for their durability with Oak and Maple being extremely hard-wearing when looked after correctly.

Which wood is best for a dining table?

• Oak - Oak is the classic wood for dining table production - it is hardwearing and able to handle frequent long-time usage.
• Elm - Elm is another extremely strong and durable wood that is great for dining tables.

Look at the table closely to see if there are different types of wood. The more variation you can see, the more likely it is to be an antique. Similarly, try to find any irregular dovetailing where two pieces of wood join - often a sign of hand-made craftsmanship, rather than mass-produced designs.

Similarly, checking the underside of a dining table or desk will clearly reveal what it is made from. If it is plywood or OSB, stamped numbers may reveal its source and batch number. If it has a core of MDF you will see an expanse of grainless material in gray, brown, or beige.

Look at the table closely to see if there are different types of wood. The more variation you can see, the more likely it is to be an antique. Similarly, try to find any irregular dovetailing where two pieces of wood join - often a sign of hand-made craftsmanship, rather than mass-produced designs.

Condition of the Wood A few signs that furniture is newer include consistent color, lack of patina, machine-cut moldings/carvings, and modern screws or nails. Things like mortise-and-tenon joints, wood pegs, hand-cut dovetails, and rose head nails are typically found in antique furniture.

Which wood is best for a dining table?

• Oak - Oak is the classic wood for dining table production - it is hardwearing and able to handle frequent long-time usage.
• Elm - Elm is another extremely strong and durable wood that is great for dining tables.

Which Wood is Best for Furniture - The Ultimate Guide

• Teak Wood. To answer the question of which wood is best for furniture in India the answer is usually teak wood.
• Rosewood. Rosewood is close-grained and tough.
• Satinwood. Satinwood is durable and robust.
• Sal Wood.
• White Cedar.
• Mahogany.
• Deodar.

Solid hardwood Natural, solid wood feels warm and welcoming, and hardwood species such as acacia, birch and oak are naturally durable and sturdy, because of the high density of their wood fibers.