Trestle Tables

They say that good design endures. But can it endure for 800 years? Just mention the trestle table to experts who have seen this piece in contemporary settings, and you'll get an emphatic nod of approval. "The interest of trestle tables is in the wood," says Tim Hamilton, assistant vice president for arcade sales at Sotheby's in New York, where country pieces selling for between $2,000 and $10,000 come on the block. "The tops of trestle tables are usually made from old growth timber cut into long, thick planks or one single plank, with beautiful figuring in the grain, polished again and again and darkened along the edges where hands have touched them for several hundred years."

JUST THE FACTS

What to look for: Tables were made from oak, walnut, and local woods. Wormholes and cracks in the surface show age, as do the thickness and width of the tabletop planks. A top made from a single plank indicates that it probably was created from old growth timber. The top should not be scrubbed clean but should have a rich patina. The wood grain should be interesting.

Condition: Tabletops are almost always original because their thickness makes them durable. Original stretchers and end supports are important as well. Repairs are to be expected even in a valuable piece, but replacements bring down the value.

Price range: From $2,000 to $25,000 for 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century tables, depending on condition, age, and charm. Earlier tables are extremely rare. Long tables are more expensive than short ones.

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