Does anyone know what this table would have been used for?

Beth
by Beth
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I have the opportunity to get this piece of what looks to be mid-century modern furniture. I love the look of it but have no idea what it was supposed to be used for. It looks to be some sort of stand for something, any ideas as to what it is or could be?
q table identification, painted furniture, repurposing upcycling
q table identification, painted furniture, repurposing upcycling
  14 answers
  • Dee Moreland Jones Dee Moreland Jones on Jun 29, 2015
    a telephone table........ sit on the right
    • Beth Beth on Jun 29, 2015
      @Dee Moreland Jones Thank you! I've seen quite a few phone stands from the same period but none like this one. The others I've seen were smaller and the part where one would sit were more chair or stool height. This one is so low, and long (50") perhaps it was once upholstered which would bring the seat up a bit higher? I'm thinking it might be cute with a cushion at the foot of a bed and just for old times sake I would put a cell phone charging station in it.
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Jun 29, 2015
    I'm wondering if it might have been part of the furniture used in motel rooms. The long, low shelf could have been used to rest one's suitcase(s). The casement part is shaped as if it would have been placed in a corner. Are there any marks or notations on it to allow for any clues?
    • Beth Beth on Jun 29, 2015
      @Swan Road Designs I think you might be on to something, very clever! I'll look more closely over the weekend to see if there are any other clues. Thanks so much.
  • Barb Barb on Jun 29, 2015
    I think the seat would be too low to have been a telephone table.
  • 4ja251581 4ja251581 on Jun 30, 2015
    stereo?
    • Beth Beth on Jun 30, 2015
      @4jaimsmom I did think about putting a TV on it but not it's quite long or tall enough.
  • A.k. Sullivan A.k. Sullivan on Jun 30, 2015
    It's a cool piece whatever it is.
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Jun 30, 2015

    We had a telephone (a.k.a gossip bench) table at home, with a bench just as long. The open shelving was for decorations, and the drawers for phone books, pens and a pad of paper. Although the syle is a bit different than the one we had, the overall function is similar. As for the bench height, ours had a thick cushion. We had the phone and a small accent lamp on ours.

    http://www.whorange.net/whorange/2011/06/gossip-benches.html

    Pic below : jonathanadler.com: Claude Walnut gossip bench set
    • Beth Beth on Jun 30, 2015
      @B. Enne I love the term "gossip bench", never have heard that! I'm still not sure what it is but if I get it that's what I'm calling it.
  • Melody McSweeney Melody McSweeney on Jun 30, 2015
    who cares? It's an awesome piece -grab it!
    • See 2 previous
    • Beth Beth on Jul 01, 2015
      @B. Enne Thank you. It somehow makes me feel better when I buy someone else's forgotten memories to make new ones of my own.
  • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Jun 30, 2015
    Well, that's a wacky piece of late 50's early 60's furniture! I'm thinking some diy-er modified it from an end table into a bench or shelf, possibly for a child? If you look at the board that sticks out with the relocated table leg, you'll notice that it has none of the design of the main piece: thickness, curve, smooth finish are all absent. Conclusion: this is a board stuck to a period endtable wit the leg transposed.
    • See 1 previous
    • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Jul 01, 2015
      @Beth No sleuthing involved, I just stare a lot! I don't have much mid-century stuff, but I lived through the era, and I got to say that's an iconic style - could have been in the background somewhere on Mad Men (if you are familiar with the show)! P.S. Recliner/endtable pair = twice the style!
  • Catherine Meekcoms Catherine Meekcoms on Jun 30, 2015
    b. enne said above a telephone table you sit on the bench art while you chat, phone goes on the top and storage for your directory's.
  • Bananas! Bananas! on Jun 30, 2015
    Yup, telephone table, usually placed inside the front door, in the front hall area....don't know why, but that's where they were put. They were always low to the ground, just like this one. It is more modern than most I ever saw, but nice for a fix
  • Dianna Dianna on Jun 30, 2015
    It looks like an entry way table. Keys, hats, gloves, shoes, boots, kids back packs notes to and from school. This way it is not strewn all over the house.
    • See 2 previous
    • Dianna Dianna on Jul 01, 2015
      I hate auto keyboards. Cool! I love this piece. It holds everything but closes up so you don't have to see it all and cleans up easily. I'd build a coat rack to put next to it.
  • Melindateal.mt Melindateal.mt on Jun 30, 2015
    Don't know but it would make a nice glassware cabinet for a minnie bar.
    • Beth Beth on Jun 30, 2015
      @Melindateal.mt That's a clever re-purposing idea, thanks!
  • Terry Gardetto Terry Gardetto on Jun 30, 2015
    It's a lady's accessories table. There's a full length mirror that goes above the side shelf. Ladies would add there jewelry and hats after dressing in front of the mirror with their pretty things in the cabinet. My grandmother had one.😊
    • See 4 previous
    • Z Z on Jul 10, 2015
      @You're very welcome Beth. I'm an avid furniture lover, I have a 12 by 16 foot shed with two 6 by 12 foot lofts filled with furniture from the last century. I don't always know the make, but I can often tell the era something is from. It would be nice if you can find, or have a mirror made, some day for it. I have to admit that @Terry Gardetto's comment is what turned on the lightbulb for me.
  • Melody McSweeney Melody McSweeney on Jun 30, 2015
    Beth - I have "stuff" - replacement of things lost is painful. . . tell us what you need - we will send/replace. . .
    • Beth Beth on Jul 01, 2015
      @Melody McSweeney Thank you so very much! We had insurance so we will be able to replace things but I must tell you, I have tears running down my face right now because of your kindness. I realized you're the very first person to offer to help. My family would have been so grateful if just one of our friends or neighbors had offered to help sort through the burned remains of a lifetime of memories. It was particularly difficult for us because my Mom had just passed away and they had moved all of her and my grandmother's belongings to our house (I'm sorry..typing this sounds so terribly tear jerking, we're past that now). Halfway through the re-building of the house, my husband looked up and said "you know we really did need all new windows" and that was kind of a turning point for us. I started to think of what we could do rather that what we had lost. We got the house "back" last December when the builders were finished and now we're excited start over. We probably could have bought new furniture but I love the challenge of rescuing old furniture and restoring someone else's memories that other's have discarded. Again..thank you, I can't tell you how much a simple response to a post has meant to me.
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