Drawing, reading, sketching and much more are often done on a drafting table. Specifically, these drawing tables are most often used for working on plans requiring precise technical detail, such as the blueprint for a large building. These tables were especially prominent during the Colonial period of United States history. Most moneyed men often had one of these desks in their private quarts, and would use them for various tasks, including writing. Jefferson’s original drawing s for Monticello were completed on his drafting table.
As architecture and draftsmanship became evolved in the industrial age, the drafting table became more popular as well. These tables needed to be fully adjustable, so that the artist or gentleman could work either sitting or standing. The table top also preferably had to be adjustable from a horizontal to a vertical position, and any comfortable working angle in between.
As we moved from the Industrial Era into more recent times, the materials used to create these desks evolved and changed as well. Today, you are just as likely to find a drafting table made from steel, aluminum or plastic as you are to find one made of wood, though wood remains the most popular and highest quality choice. Even the advent of computer aided design hasn’t completely eliminated these drawing desks, and they still enjoy great popularity.
With wood still being an incredibly popular material to use, it is no surprise that antique drafting tables are often a treasured piece of furniture in any home. Always beautiful, and as functional today as it was hundreds of years ago, these old desks are often more expensive to purchase then their modern counterparts. They may even become the centerpiece of the room.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to bring one home. Because of their historical use in creating blueprints, which often required very large sheets of paper, these desks can take up quite a bit of space. Proper room planning is essential in order to make the desk work for you. Also, remember that these antique tables were hand crafted from the finest woods available at the time. This means they are heavy – very heavy. Make sure that your flooring can withstand the weight for a long period of time. You’ve spent all that money on this beautiful piece of furniture. Make sure it has a chance to shine!
If you are looking for a piece of furniture that may complete the look you want for a home library or an artists studio, you might want to consider acquiring antique drafting tables. It is not simply an artifact or art piece for display, but is a complete piece of furniture ” with elegance and beauty befitting an antique, and the functionality that makes it a welcome addition to any artists workroom.