A reading table is a table designed specifically for reading, usually incorporating an adjustable sloping surface on which a book can rest at a comfortable angle. Many examples also have a ledge to hold the book in place, candle slides or brackets, and drawers for papers and writing materials.
Reading tables became fashionable in the second half of the eighteenth century and were made by leading cabinetmakers of the Georgian and Regency periods, often in mahogany or rosewood. Typical forms include tables on a central pillar with a ratcheted or rising top, which could be adjusted in height and angle for use beside a chair or bed, and larger library tables with fold-up reading slopes. Some versatile designs combine reading, writing and drawing functions, and adjustable invalid tables were also produced. The Victorians continued the form, sometimes with cast iron or brass mechanisms. Collectors look for smooth, original mechanisms, good timber and colour, and the presence of original fittings such as book rests and candle slides. Repairs to ratchets and hinges are common. Reading tables remain both useful and decorative in libraries, studies and bedrooms, where they can also display a large book or folio.
