Doe and Hope

Description

The early twentieth century pine refectory table having a rectangular four-plank, two and a half inch top, on large pitch pine shaped supports united by a central stretcher survives from the twentieth century.

The condition is good and honest with no repair work. There are gaps between each plank to the top but these can be spliced and filled on request. The way the pegs and dowels are left showing is reminiscent of the arts and crafts movement which was prominent at the time that this table was made, being glad to show off the craftsmanship involved in making the table. We have hand waxed and oiled the top.

A refectory table is a highly elongated table used originally for dining in monasteries in Medieval times. In the Late Middle Ages the table gradually became a banqueting or feasting table in castles and other noble residences. The original table manufacture was by hand and created of oak or walnut the design is based on a trestle-style. Typically the table legs are supported by circumferential stretchers, as we see here, positioned very low to the floor. In its original use, one or more refectory tables were placed within the monks' dining hall or refectory and the larger refectories would have a number of refectory tables where monks would take their meals, often while one of the monks read sacred texts from an elevated pulpit.

Alas, no monks have sat here but many people have and this proves a real family table with a huge amount of charm and character, and of the kind that it really doesn’t matter if those children go crazy with those crayons, or miss their mouths with that there, Bolognese sauce.. does it?