Food. There’s no escaping it. Your body craves it. Whether it’s just a chance to refuel your day or a place to unwind with family and friends, food brings people together of all walks of life. And, almost every time you see food, there is the table upon which it is placed. Dining room tables can turn a blank space into a place for entertaining with the right table. Families gather nightly around the kitchen table to break bread and catch up on the days events. Dining tables are used so often that it is important to choose the right one for you and your family’s needs. In this post, we will discuss how dining tables came to be, how they are made, and what to look for in a table.
Aristotle to Caesar to King Arthur
Placing food around a table dates back to Greek and Roman times. Typically these tables were square or rectangular, placed near the floor, and no chairs were used. Instead, diners would kneel or recline on the floor and enjoy their meals. Table would be constructed out of marble many times as well. Many times, the table would be put away after use in order to keep the room clean and functional for other activities. Around the time that the Roman Empire ruled, round tables began to be introduced. These had the benefit of a more informal dining experience without one person being at the “head” of the table. It was not until the Middle Ages that the table predominantly used today began to take shape. The nobility of the time would have vast banquet halls in order to house the entire extended family and all those in the court to dine together. Typically, the ruling family would sit at a rectangular head table made of wood raised on a dais. The other members of the court would sit in table arranged from there in order of rank or importance. During the Dark Ages, these extravagant dining halls gave way to smaller more parlour like rooms for a more intimate setting. The smaller setting became more popular for daily use and the dining halls then became reserved for special occasions. During the Victorian era did give rise to very ornately carved table and chairs, especially for the formal dining area. In modern times, families will often have an informal kitchen table and a more elegant dining table that mimics the flow from that era. Tables today are mostly constructed out of wood (more on that later) and range from ornately decorated to more simplistic design.
