The console table sitting in your hallway carries a lineage stretching back over four hundred years to the opulent palaces of French royalty. What began as a symbol of wealth and artistic patronage has evolved into one of the most versatile and beloved pieces of furniture in modern homes. Understanding this history not only enriches your appreciation of the piece but can also inform your choices when selecting a console table that will stand the test of time.
Origins in 17th Century France
The console table as we know it emerged during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, in 17th century France. The term "console" derives from the French word for a bracket or corbelâan architectural support that projects from a wall. Early console tables were exactly that: elaborately carved brackets affixed directly to walls, supporting a marble or wooden top.
These early pieces weren't freestanding furniture. They were architectural elements, permanently attached to the wall as part of the room's design. Positioned between windows or below mirrors in the grand galleries of Versailles and other palatial residences, they served primarily as platforms for displaying candelabras, whose light would reflect in the mirrors above to illuminate vast reception rooms.
The Versailles Connection
The Palace of Versailles, completed in 1682, showcased some of the most elaborate console tables ever created. Gilded with gold leaf and supported by carved eagles, cherubs, or mythological figures, these pieces were statements of royal power and artistic achievement.
The Evolution to Freestanding Furniture
By the early 18th century, console tables began their transformation from fixed architectural features to moveable furniture. Craftsmen added legs to the designs, initially two at the front (the back still supported by wall brackets) and eventually four legs for fully freestanding pieces.
The Rococo period (approximately 1730-1770) saw console tables become increasingly ornate. Curved legs, asymmetrical carvings, and elaborate gilding characterised this era. The serpentine curves and naturalistic motifsâshells, flowers, and scrolling acanthus leavesâmade these pieces sculptural artworks in their own right.
During this period, console tables spread beyond France. Italian craftsmen created exuberant pieces with carved and painted finishes, while English cabinetmakers developed their own interpretations, often in mahogany with more restrained carving. Each region brought its own aesthetic sensibility to the form.
The Neoclassical Shift
The late 18th century brought a dramatic change in taste. The discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum sparked a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman aesthetics. Console tables of this period, associated with Louis XVI in France and Robert Adam in England, abandoned Rococo curves for straight lines, tapered legs, and classical motifs.
Neoclassical console tables featured:
- Geometric forms and straight lines
- Fluted, tapered legs
- Greek key patterns and laurel wreaths
- Marble tops in more subdued colours
- Restrained gilding or painted finishes
This elegantly restrained aesthetic influenced furniture design for decades and remains a touchstone for traditional console table designs today.
Victorian Eclecticism
The 19th century Victorian era brought an eclectic approach to furniture design. Industrialisation made furniture more accessible to the growing middle class, and console tables appeared in modest homes for the first timeânot just grand estates.
Victorian console tables drew inspiration from multiple historical periods simultaneously. A single piece might combine Gothic arches, Rococo curves, and Renaissance motifs. Materials diversified too: papier-mùché inlaid with mother-of-pearl, cast iron, and machine-carved wood brought console tables to a broader market.
The Hallstand Era
Victorian homes often featured hallstandsâelaborate combinations of console table, mirror, coat hooks, and umbrella stand. These multipurpose pieces served the practical needs of the era while providing a showcase for decorative objects in the home's entry.
Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau
As the 19th century closed, reaction against mass production led to the Arts and Crafts movement. Designers like William Morris championed handcrafted furniture with honest construction and natural materials. Console tables from this period featured visible joinery, quarter-sawn oak, and simple, functional forms.
Simultaneously, Art Nouveau brought organic, sinuous lines inspired by natural forms. Console tables in this style featured whiplash curves, plant-like supports, and integrated design where structure and ornament merged seamlessly. Though short-lived (roughly 1890-1910), Art Nouveau produced some of the most distinctive console table designs in history.
Modernism and Mid-Century Design
The 20th century brought radical rethinking of furniture design. Modernist designers stripped away ornament, embracing the principle that form should follow function. Console tables became exercises in material and structural innovation.
Key developments included:
- Bauhaus influence: Steel tube frames and glass tops created minimalist console tables
- Scandinavian design: Light woods, organic forms, and practical elegance
- Mid-century modern: Tapered legs, clean lines, and warm timber finishes
- Italian design: Bold experiments with plastic, acrylic, and unconventional forms
These 20th century movements continue to influence console table design today. The current popularity of Scandinavian and mid-century modern styles owes directly to this era's design innovations.
Contemporary Console Tables
Today's console table designs draw from this rich history while responding to contemporary needs. We see influences from every period: the elegance of French antiques, the simplicity of Scandinavian design, the raw materials of industrial style, and the functionality of modern living.
Current trends include:
- Mixed materials: Combining timber with metal, marble with brass, or glass with steel
- Sustainable choices: Reclaimed timber and eco-friendly manufacturing
- Slim profiles: Designed for apartment living and narrow hallways
- Multifunctional designs: Storage drawers, charging stations, and convertible features
- Statement pieces: Bold sculptural forms as focal points
Console Tables in Australian Homes
Australia's furniture history is relatively young, but console tables have been present since European settlement. Early Australian pieces were often simpler adaptations of European designs, crafted from local timbers like Huon pine and blackwood.
Today, Australian designers create console tables that suit our particular context: pieces that work in Federation-era homes and modern apartments alike, designed to withstand harsh sunlight and suit our indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Australian furniture makers increasingly draw on Indigenous art and design for inspiration, creating pieces with genuine local character.
Choosing a Timeless Design
Understanding history helps you select a console table that won't feel dated in a few years. Classic proportions, quality materials, and honest constructionâvalues that have defined enduring designs for centuriesâare more likely to age gracefully than trendy pieces that sacrifice these fundamentals.
What History Teaches Us
The evolution of the console table offers valuable lessons for furniture buyers today. Across four centuries, certain principles have remained constant: well-proportioned pieces outlast fashion; quality craftsmanship endures; and the best designs balance beauty with functionality.
Whether you're drawn to the ornate elegance of French antiques, the clean lines of Scandinavian design, or the bold experimentation of contemporary furniture, you're participating in a rich design tradition. Your console table connects your home to centuries of craftsmanship and aesthetic exploration.
When selecting your next console table, consider not just how it looks today, but how it might age over time. The pieces that become treasured antiques a century from now will be those made with care, designed with lasting proportions, and crafted from honest materials. That's the lesson history teaches us.