Tabula, a Latin word has been in existence for at least 2000 years. The word tabula means, a board, a plank or a flat top piece. In Spanish the word for table is mesa,(from Latin mensa) and in old English it was, bord, which ultimately became table. Tables come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on their use. But all of them no matter what their size and shape have ultimately one use, that is, to support objects or place objects at a convenient distance from the ground. Before tables were invented humans most probably used any convenient object to place something, like a rock, or maybe just put it on the ground or floor.
The earliest evidence of table use comes from Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese literature. Egyptian Pharaohs used tables that looked like stools unlike the tables that we use today. Carved from stone or smelted metal, these furniture were mainly used in food holding. Chinese tables were barely off the ground. They were used not just for eating but also writing, painting, and sketching. Made from wood, these tables did not have room for chairs. Users had to sit on the floor to use them. Koreans and Japanese probably copied the Chinese practice of sitting on the floor facing their guests while eating.
In Europe, the Greeks and Romans also had their contribution in the development of the table. They also used their tables for eating, but the Greeks added an innovation to their tables. Their tables could be kept under their beds. Marble, metal, or wood were the primary materials that they were made with. Romans contributed to table design with their large tables that may on occasion have 6 legs. Shaped like semi-circles, they were called Mensa Lunata.
Probably, the design of the farmhouse dining table was based on the Mensa Lunata. Both tables are huge. Original farmhouse tables could hold 12 to about 14 guests. Pine wood or oak wood were used for their construction, which reflects the area that these tables were first made. A rustic design was also often finished on such tables. This hides the wear and tear that can come from tough farm use.
The people who first used such tables preferred substance over stylishness for their tables. Made in plain rectangles or in circular or square shapes for the smaller ones, these tables were nevertheless heavier than ordinary. Moving them is a chore. Many such tables come with a pre-weathered look despite the fact that they have never been near any farm or cowboy since they were first made. - 33383
The earliest evidence of table use comes from Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese literature. Egyptian Pharaohs used tables that looked like stools unlike the tables that we use today. Carved from stone or smelted metal, these furniture were mainly used in food holding. Chinese tables were barely off the ground. They were used not just for eating but also writing, painting, and sketching. Made from wood, these tables did not have room for chairs. Users had to sit on the floor to use them. Koreans and Japanese probably copied the Chinese practice of sitting on the floor facing their guests while eating.
In Europe, the Greeks and Romans also had their contribution in the development of the table. They also used their tables for eating, but the Greeks added an innovation to their tables. Their tables could be kept under their beds. Marble, metal, or wood were the primary materials that they were made with. Romans contributed to table design with their large tables that may on occasion have 6 legs. Shaped like semi-circles, they were called Mensa Lunata.
Probably, the design of the farmhouse dining table was based on the Mensa Lunata. Both tables are huge. Original farmhouse tables could hold 12 to about 14 guests. Pine wood or oak wood were used for their construction, which reflects the area that these tables were first made. A rustic design was also often finished on such tables. This hides the wear and tear that can come from tough farm use.
The people who first used such tables preferred substance over stylishness for their tables. Made in plain rectangles or in circular or square shapes for the smaller ones, these tables were nevertheless heavier than ordinary. Moving them is a chore. Many such tables come with a pre-weathered look despite the fact that they have never been near any farm or cowboy since they were first made. - 33383
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