This is an antique British drop-leaf gateleg table made from British oak.
The barley sugar twist on the legs of this gateleg table is eye-catching. The classical design evokes the good old Western traditions, and the rich British oak wood creates an elegant atmosphere.
Drop Leaf Table
In the 16th century in England, extendable tables appeared that could be used when guests came over. In the first half of the 17th century, when furniture-making techniques had further developed, drop-leaf tables with three-piece tabletops and foldable extensions at both ends became popular. When the wings are extended, they become a table top, and when folded, they become a thin rectangle. Only one side can be folded. This table can be used for different occasions, such as when guests are present at a party, it can be extended, and when it is used on a daily basis, it can be folded compactly.
Gateleg Table
In the 16th century, extendable tables that could accommodate guests appeared in England. Among these, the gateleg table, which had legs that supported the extension board and could be opened and closed like a gate, is known as a gateleg table, and is still a familiar piece of furniture in British homes today.
Barley Sugar Twist
This is a type of decoration that is a symbol of the Jacobean style and was popular in the second half of the 17th century when the spiral turning technique was invented. The name comes from the twisted candy made from barley (Baerley).
British oak
Oak wood, which is often used in traditional British furniture making, is called British Oak as it symbolizes British antique furniture. Before the Meiji period when Western furniture began to be made in Japan, there was no value in using oak wood (oak wood) domestically, so Mizunara (Japanese oak) from Hokkaido was exported to Britain at a low price. It is not unlikely that British Oak and antique furniture imported in modern times are actually returning to Japan.