Walk into any dusty estate sale or a high-end auction house and you’ll eventually stumble across it. It’s leggy. It’s ornate. It looks like a wooden spider decided to dress up for a Victorian ball. The antique 6 legged parlor table is one of those pieces of furniture that people either absolutely adore or find deeply confusing.
Why six legs? Honestly, four usually does the job. But in the late 19th century, furniture wasn't just about holding a lamp; it was about showing off.
These tables—often called "hexagonal tables" or "library tables" depending on who you’re talking to—emerged during a time when the American middle class was exploding. People had money. They had parlors. Most importantly, they had a desperate need to prove they had taste. If a four-legged table was good, a six-legged one was clearly better. It’s Victorian logic at its finest.
The Aesthetic Chaos of the Victorian Era
To understand why the antique 6 legged parlor table exists, you have to look at the era’s obsession with "more is more." We’re talking about the Aesthetic Movement and the tail end of the Victorian period.
Furniture designers like George Hunzinger or the craftsmen at companies such as Mersman and Karpen were constantly experimenting. They didn't just want stability; they wanted a silhouette that caught the eye from across a crowded, candle-lit room.
The six-legged design often features a central hub. Picture a wagon wheel but made of mahogany or oak. The legs splay out from a central column or are joined by an intricate stretcher system near the floor. It’s structural overkill. But that’s the point.
You’ve likely seen these in Eastlake styles, which moved away from the curvy, French-inspired "Rococo Revival" and toward something more geometric and "honest," as Charles Eastlake himself might have put it. Although, ironically, an antique 6 legged parlor table is anything but simple.
Identifying Real Quality vs. Mass-Produced Junk
Not all six-legged tables are created equal. You’ll find some that are solid walnut and weigh as much as a small car, and others that are "revival" pieces from the 1920s made of thin veneers.
How do you tell? Look at the joinery.
👉 See also: Bondage and Being Tied Up: A Realistic Look at Safety, Psychology, and Why People Do It
If you crawl under the table—which you should totally do if you're planning on buying one—check how the legs meet the apron. Are there hand-cut dovetails? Or is it just held together by some sad, 100-year-old glue and a prayer? Genuine Victorian pieces often use heavy woods like rosewood, mahogany, or quartersawn oak. The "flake" or "tiger" pattern in quartersawn oak is a dead giveaway for high-quality American craftsmanship from around 1890 to 1910.
Then there are the feet. Oh, the feet!
Some feature the classic "claw and ball." Others have "brass casters," which were actually functional because these tables were heavy. If the wheels are original, they’ll usually be made of porcelain, wood, or brass. If you see plastic, well, you’ve got a reproduction on your hands.
Why Do People Still Buy These?
It’s the vibe. Seriously.
In a world of flat-pack furniture and disposable MDF desks, a heavy antique 6 legged parlor table feels permanent. It’s a statement. Designers today use them as "anchor pieces." You put one in an entryway, and suddenly the whole house feels like it has a history, even if you just bought it last week.
They’re also weirdly versatile.
Because many of them are circular or hexagonal, they don't have a "front." You can stick them in a corner, or let them float in the middle of a room. I’ve seen people use them as breakfast nooks, though the leg placement makes it a bit of a gamble for your shins. Most often, they serve as a "center table."
In the 1800s, the center table was the heart of the parlor. It held the family Bible, a kerosene lamp (later converted to electric), and maybe a stereoscope. It was the social hub.
✨ Don't miss: Blue Tabby Maine Coon: What Most People Get Wrong About This Striking Coat
Common Woods and Their Value
- Mahogany: This was the gold standard. It’s dark, it’s dense, and it screams "I have an inheritance." If you find a six-legged table in mahogany with its original finish, you’re looking at a serious investment.
- Quartersawn Oak: This is the "blue-collar hero" of antiques. It’s incredibly durable and has those beautiful, shimmering rays in the grain. It’s very "Arts and Crafts" or "Mission" adjacent.
- Walnut: Common in Mid-Western American furniture. It has a warmer, browner tone than mahogany and was often used in Eastlake designs.
The Problem With "The Six-Legged Wobble"
Here’s something the "antique influencers" won't tell you: six legs are a nightmare to level.
If your floor isn't perfectly flat—and let’s be real, if you live in an old house, nothing is flat—a six-legged table is going to rock. It’s simple physics. With four legs, you can shim one. With six, you’re playing a game of Tetris with felt pads.
Many people think a wobbly table is broken. Usually, it’s just the floor. Or, over the last 130 years, the wood has shrunk or expanded at different rates. This is called "seasonal movement." Wood is a living thing, sort of. It breathes. When the humidity drops in the winter, those six legs might decide to behave differently.
Spotting a "Frankenstein" Table
You have to be careful. Back in the 1970s, there was a huge craze for "upcycling" (though they didn't call it that then). People would take the base of one broken table and marry it to the top of another.
Check the underside. Does the wood on the legs match the wood on the top? Are the screw holes clean, or are there five different sets of holes where someone tried to force a marriage between a Victorian base and a Sears & Roebuck top?
A "married" piece isn't necessarily worthless if you love how it looks, but it shouldn't command the price of a "pure" antique 6 legged parlor table.
Maintenance: Don't Kill the Patina
If you get your hands on one of these, please, for the love of all things holy, stay away from the spray-on furniture polish.
Those silicone-based sprays leave a film that eventually turns into a sticky, grey haze. Instead, use a high-quality paste wax. A little bit of Renaissance Wax or even a basic beeswax goes a long way. You want to preserve the "patina"—that glorious wear and tear that only comes from a century of use.
🔗 Read more: Blue Bathroom Wall Tiles: What Most People Get Wrong About Color and Mood
If the finish is "alligatored" (it looks like cracked lizard skin), that’s actually the old shellac breaking down. Some collectors hate it; others think it’s the height of authenticity. You can often "re-amalgamate" shellac with a bit of denatured alcohol, but if you aren't experienced, you might end up with a sticky mess.
Where to Find Them Without Getting Ripped Off
- Live Auctions: This is where the deals are. Most people are scared of auctions, but if you show up to a local "country" auction, you can often snag a six-legged table for way less than retail because they’re too heavy for most people to haul home.
- Facebook Marketplace: Use search terms like "old round table," "Victorian table," or "6 leg table." A lot of sellers don't know the technical terms.
- Antique Malls: Expect to pay a premium here, but the benefit is that the "picking" has been done for you.
Taking Action: Next Steps for the Aspiring Collector
If you're ready to add an antique 6 legged parlor table to your home, start by measuring your space. These tables often have a wider footprint than you’d expect because of the leg splay.
Once you find a candidate, perform the "wiggle test." Grab the tabletop and give it a firm but gentle shake. If the legs move independently of the top, the joinery is loose. This is fixable, but it’s a job for a professional or a very patient DIYer with some hide glue and long clamps.
Next, check for "veneer lifting." Run your hand across the top. If you feel bubbles, moisture has gotten under the surface. It’s a common issue with these tables, especially if someone left a sweating water glass on it in 1945.
Finally, look at the color. A deep, rich "oxblood" or "honey" tone is usually a sign of an original finish. If it looks very pale or "sanded," someone might have stripped it in the 80s, which unfortunately kills a lot of the antique value.
Own the history. Whether it’s a parlor piece for your books or a conversation starter in the foyer, the six-legged table is a weird, wonderful relic of a time when furniture was built to outlast its owners.
Check your local listings this weekend. Look for that unmistakable six-legged silhouette. When you find one that’s solid, heavy, and full of character, you’ll know. It’s not just a table; it’s a 100-pound piece of the past that’s ready to hold your coffee.