| The true origins of the farm table are something of a | | | | Chippendale. These were the three main furniture |
| mystery. There are various theories about how these | | | | makers in England at the end of the 18th century. Of |
| tables became incorporated into many American farm | | | | these three, Chippendale published a design book, |
| homes at the beginning of the 19th century. Perhaps | | | | entitled 'The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director'. |
| the most believable and well known theory is that | | | | It is thought that editions of this book filtered through to |
| American farmers copied the designs that were | | | | America in the early 1800's, and furniture makers there |
| around at the time, and fashioned tables that would be | | | | began to construct designs similar to those printed, but |
| used for work as well as for eating meals. These | | | | these tables began to be simplified in order to cut the |
| tables soon became the central meeting point for the | | | | manufacturing time down. |
| family at dinner, and they were often large enough to | | | | However, farmers tended to make their own furniture |
| sit 8+ people at once. They were designed to seat all | | | | by hand, and they were not trained as cabinet makers. |
| members of the family as well as any guests that | | | | So they began to further simplify the design of the |
| may have been visiting. | | | | tables they made, and built them to last and survive |
| But who made the original designs that were then | | | | the constant use they would receive. The result is the |
| copied? Many point to three English men: Thomas | | | | sturdy, solid tables we know as farmhouse tables |
| Sheraton, George Hepplewhite, and Thomas | | | | today! |