Where Did Coffee Tables Come From?

Coffee tables have been around since people realised that sitting, chatting and holding a hot cup all at the same time was decidedly less comfortable than placing the cup on the floor. Actually it came a little after that once people realised that kicking over full cups of coffee brought about a whole world of trouble, awkward apologies and embarrassment.

All joking aside, the origins of the coffee table as we know it are disputed somewhat. It’s agreed that its inception began towards the late 19th century but its actual origins are the talking point. Coffee tables, as we know them, are low down and placed next to, or within reaching distance of a sofa in order to hold books, drinks (obviously) and apparently feet. Its function is simply that of assistance and comfort. The supposedly ‘original’ coffee tables of recorded history were rather high up though, about two and a half feet tall. The fact that this can be defined as merely a ‘table’ is where the dispute arises. Coffee tables are exclusively low tables.

So as history progresses, the design is adapted and enhanced. The coffee tables became lower, more along the lines of what we see today. But again, a dispute arises with yet another claim as to the first recognised coffee table, this time later on in the early-mid twentieth century. Perhaps this is purely down to how the furniture was marketed. The phrase ‘coffee table’ may not have been coined until later on, but the model and design could have dated back much further. In fact there is some evidence of these types of tables being used by the Ancient Greeks, but that’s not something you should bring up with Victorians.

The idea for coffee tables seems to have been influenced by Eastern culture; as near as Turkey and as far as Japan. During the Victorian era, Japanese cultural influence on British fashion was at the height of popularity. You may have the image in your head of a Japanese tea room, where everybody takes their shoes off and kneels at a low table. Indeed, the European design wasn’t a direct replica of the Japanese model but the concept was certainly there; a table lower than a dining table but used for communal purposes nonetheless.

The coffee table also gave rise to ‘coffee table books’. With the idea of community and socialising in mind, the coffee table book is essentially a light read aimed at stimulating conversation. It achieves this by being heavy on the illustrative front (lots of pictures and not a lot of text) and quite simplistic in its language so that anybody can pick it up, flick through a few pages and ‘get the gist’ of what’s going on. After that, conversation can ensue and social awkwardness is once again alleviated (especially when there is no risk of kicking over coffee cups). So whilst the origins of the coffee table are still disputed (based mostly on semantics it seems), the purpose remains the same; coffee tables help to prevent awkward social situations.

By: TJM

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