An extension table is a dining table that can be lengthened to seat more people, usually by adding extra leaves. The mechanism may be a set of sliding bearers, a telescopic frame, a draw-leaf arrangement in which leaves pull out from beneath the main top, or a screw mechanism operated by a winding handle.
In the eighteenth century, large dining tables were often made in sections, such as a central drop-leaf table with two D-shaped ends that could be used separately as side tables. During the Regency period, cabinet-makers developed and patented a variety of extending mechanisms, and firms such as Gillows were well known for their ingenious designs. In the Victorian period, the telescopic table with a winding handle became standard in middle-class dining rooms, typically in mahogany or oak with heavy turned or carved legs on castors. Leaves were often stored in a purpose-made leaf cabinet or stand. Buyers should check that the leaves are original and match the colour and figure of the top, that the mechanism runs smoothly, and that the clips and pegs are present. A good extending table offers great flexibility, sitting compactly in everyday use and expanding for family gatherings and dinner parties.
