Today I would like to tell you a little bit more about Belgian Pearls Diane Table.

Belgian Pearls Diane Table   Photo credit Claude Smekens

The design of this table, that is one of my all times favorites, is inspired by the 18th C. Irish ‘wake table’ or ‘hunt table’. Its name is derived from the 2 major uses of this kind of table in the 18th century Irish house.

This particular table was put into use (even dating back to the 1600 hundreds or earlier) due to the Irish tradition of funeral rituals, of waking the dead. The coffin was placed on the fixed central plank of the table (size of the coffin), giving the opportunity to watch over the body day and night, and the hinged leaves where raised and used to serve food and drinks when friends and relatives came to pay their respect for the corpse and offering their condolences to the family before the funeral. That is why this kind of table was called ‘wake table’.

This table could be moved very easily, and in the 18th C. the table was often brought outside to serve drinks during the fox hunting, and was therefore called ‘hunt table’.

These tables were made of elm or oak (for poorer people) or made of mahogany, either completely mahogany made, or with a mahogany top and oak base (for richer people).

These tables follow a standard form, having a narrow fixed top and elliptical hinged leaves, standing on a four-legged frame. When folded up, each leaf is supported by the rotating legs that swing out from the center.

Irish George II mahogany hunt table – c. 1750 found at Hawker Antiques London

 

Yet, these tables are very versatile and comfortable for the more confined spaces in our today’s smaller homes or apartments. The hunt table is nowadays seen, standing against a wall or sit behind a sofa, and when fully open, the table can be used for a large seating arrangement and is really useful as a dining table.

Belgian Pearls Diane Table   Photo credit Claude Smekens

Belgian Pearls Diane Table is a signature piece for Defleure Home Collection and is made of solid oak. This table has a fixed section and can be enlarged by two hinged leaves. When folded up, each leaf is supported by slightly tapering, rotating legs that swing out from the center.

Belgian Pearls Diane Table is made by craftsmen in Belgium.

Belgian Pearls Diane Table   Photo credit Claude Smekens

And the table is stamped with the unique Belgian Pearls logo.

Belgian Pearls Diane Table   Photo credit Claude Smekens

The table is available in natural and in black stained oak, both finished with a colorless matte varnish.

Solid oak table top and tapering legs.

Table in black stained oak, finished with a colorless matte varnish.

When folded up, each leaf is supported by slightly tapering, rotating legs that swing out from the center.

Belgian Pearls Diane Table comes in a small, a medium and a large size.

When fully open, the small size table seats 6 diner guests, the medium size table seats 8 guests and the large size table seats 10 guests.

Table in natural oak, finished with a colorless matte varnish.

To see more of this Diane Table, please visit Belgian Pearls webpage HERE.

To discover the entire Belgian Pearls Home Collection, please click HERE.

Belgian Pearls Home Collection is available through Belgian trade furniture company Defleure.

For purchase and all your inquiries about this table or about Belgian Pearls Home Collection, please contact Defleure at info@defleure.com

Or don’t hesitate to contact me at info@belgianpearls.be

xx

Greet