Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
Who invented the coffee table?
1 Answer
No one knows for sure who invented the coffee table. The earliest examples of the occasional table can be traced back to Victorian-era Britain. At that time, makers like William Watt and Collinson and Lock were producing coffee tables in large quantities.
Notably, F. Stuart Foote, the designer behind the American Imperial Furniture Company, claimed to have invented the coffee table in the early 20th century. He stated that he did so by cutting down the legs of a dining table. However, it's unlikely that Foote is the actual inventor of the coffee table, as books describing coffee tables existed in the UK a decade before his birth in 1872.
Shop a wide variety of coffee tables on 1stDibs.
Notably, F. Stuart Foote, the designer behind the American Imperial Furniture Company, claimed to have invented the coffee table in the early 20th century. He stated that he did so by cutting down the legs of a dining table. However, it's unlikely that Foote is the actual inventor of the coffee table, as books describing coffee tables existed in the UK a decade before his birth in 1872.
Shop a wide variety of coffee tables on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertApril 12, 2024
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Shop for Coffee Tables and Cocktail Tables on 1stDibs
Guillerme & Chambron Rectangular Coffee Table in Oak with Ceramic
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, coffee table, oak, ceramic, France, 1960s
Charming coffee table by Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, crafted in solid oak with three in...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Oak
Roger Capron 'Cuvette' Ceramic Coffee Table
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roger Capron, 'Cuvette' coffee table, ceramic, steel, France, 1960s
An exceptional Cuvette coffee table by Roger Capron, designed in France during the 1960s. One of Capron's most ic...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Steel
Newly Refinished - Mid-Century Modern Walnut Coffee Table by Lane
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition Expertly Refinished
over 15 years of experience, our workshop has followed a careful process of restoration, showcasing our passion and creativity for vintage designs that ...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Walnut
Roger Capron Rare 'Alouette' Coffee Table in Ceramic Tiles and Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roger Capron 'Alouette' coffee table, ceramic brown tiles, beech, France, 1960s
A striking and rare coffee table by Roger Capron, model 'Alouette', crafted in France. The design co...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Beech
Roger Capron Oval Coffee Table in Ceramic and Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Roger Capron coffee table, ceramic, beech, France, 1960s
A beautiful coffee table by Roger Capron, crafted in France during the 1960s. The design pairs a warm wooden frame with an o...
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Ceramic, Beech
Stainless Steel Freeform Coffee Table in The Style of Karl Springer.
Located in New York, NY
1980's Freeform stainless steel coffee table in the style of Karl Springer.
Light surface scratches consistent with wear.
Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
