Not precisely the bane of my existence, but certainly someone who keeps me up to the mark, is an acquaintance whose reading of my blog seems largely an effort to catch me out. As he has done, inquiring why in my earlier blog I had failed to illustrate what he takes to be our best current in stock dining table, a fine Regency period ‘D’-end table. Well may he ask, as, frankly, it is of excellent quality, with wonderfully matched figured timber to the top.
With its enfilade of gracefully reeded legs, one assumes that it was meant to be kept fully extended, ready to seat the 10 or so diners it 
was intended to accommodate.
One may not quite be able to make out, though, the gateleg that supports either of the drop-leaves of the centre section. These are as finely wrought as the exterior legs. The why of this begs question, as, positioned under the table, they can hardly be seen.
But, of course, in their original early 19th century usage, they were almost always seen. The centre section, with its leaves raised, was the typical dining arrangement. An early 19th century print shows the typical, modest main meal, requiring only a small section of a dining table in use.
What’s interesting to note is that the table is covered with a cloth, as it always would have been in former times when in use. And the ‘D’ ends? 
Doubtless deployed either side of a chimney breast as sidetables, for serving, possibly, or display of bibelots. Rather a shame, in the case of the table we offer, that the wonderful matched figuring of the timber of the table top would be only seldom seen. Mind you, we expect that the table’s eventual purchaser will be sufficiently entranced with the beauty of the top that it will always stand with its component pieces fully assembled. Shall I mention oh so casually that this table is available during our ‘Discreet’ Summer Sale?