Visitor Parking presents The Coffee Table for Furniture Toronto.

Coffee tables - why is a coffee table referred to as a coffee table? Why not a tea table? Or in most cases a foot rest table? (...I guess that would be an ottoman). Lets find out its origins....

The first coffee house to open in Britain was opened in Oxford in 1650, and was followed in 1652 by the opening of the first coffee house in London. The popularity of this first establishment was such that it was imitated widely and coffee houses became ubiquitous in the City of London. Known as the Penny Universities, (the entry fee, which included a cup of coffee, was one penny), as it was reckoned that you could learn as much there as going to university, the coffee houses became the gathering places of merchants, scholars, politicians, businessmen and the like. In more recent times "coffee shops" are renowned social spots throughout Amsterdam and The Netherlands...but not for drinking coffee...:)

Anyway, as time went on coffee houses played an important part in the development of the City of London. For instance, the Edward Lloyd coffee house established in 1688 later became Lloyds of London. Other coffee houses where the stock jobbers congregated to do business after being expelled from the Royal Exchange formed the basis for what was to eventually become the London Stock Exchange.

The idea of a table specifically used for serving hot drinks or putting down one's cup between sips predates the coffee table in Europe by some time. In Britain in 1750 tea drinking was at the height of fashion and there was increasing demand for tea tables. There were pillar and claw tripod tea tables with a round top that were later hinged and were taller than present day coffee tables. There were also examples of tea or china tables that were rectangular. Other forms of tables in use at this time which could be placed near to a sofa, occasional tables, end tables, and/or side tables. were called

The first wooden tables, in Britain, specifically designed as and called coffee tables, were made during the late Victorian era. There is a table designed by E.W. Godwin in 1868 and made in large numbers by William Watt and Collinson and Lock which is listed as a coffee table in 'Victorian Furniture' by R. W. Symonds & B. B. Whineray and also in 'The Country Life book of English Furniture' by Edward T. Joy. If this was indeed called a coffee table at the time, it may be one of the first examples of a coffee table made in Europe. Other sources, however, merely list it as a table so it is hard to be sure. What is notable about this table is that it is not a low table at all, but is actually about 27 inches high.

So there you have it. A brief, but interesting tid-bit of coffee table history that you can discuss the next time your sitting around your coffee table with family and friends.

If you're interested in seeing some modern coffee tables perfect for your house, condo, or apartment then visit Visitor Parking on King St. East in Furniture Toronto.