US$12,001.40 A most useful 19th century extending mahogany dining table, capable of seating from six to ten persons in absolute comfort, the extending undercarriage allowing the additional original leaves to extend the table as per the images, very good dense timber and very well figured and finely turned supports with original shoes and castors.RRc. 1850The price of dining tables, Richard Gillow wrote in 1786, depended on the quality of wood, more than any other furniture - as these may be made of inferior kind of mahogany with slip hinges bolts, brass fasteners £1.00 5ft. long, but if made of fine hard mahogany they would come to about 12 guineas'.' Again in 1788 Gillows wrote similar comments about the importance of dining tables made in the 'completest manner' of fine hard mahogany', as opposed to those made of inferior soft mahogany or baywood (Honduras mahogany).' Gillows stressed the importance of using well-seasoned wood, particularly for dining table tops in order to prevent them warping. Their timber, they wrote, stands well as the tops are fine old mahogany that have been sawn up nearly 5 years ago will improve in use. Most eighteenth century dining tables were designed as sets of smaller tables, some of which could be placed against the wall, or a pier between the windows, when not in use, and reassembled to suit the number of people dining. In modest houses without a card or drawing room they were also reassembled after dining by servants for different purposes, such as card playing. In 1796 Gillows advised customers on the size of the table in relationship to the dining room. All dining tables should be 7 feet shorter than the room they are for to leave room at each end for a chair and a servant to pass. The length...