Design & History

The 1930s were a remarkable period for furniture production in Czechoslovakia.

Modernist ideas were transforming domestic interiors, particularly in cities such as Brno and Prague, where progressive architecture and furniture design developed alongside an exceptionally skilled cabinetmaking tradition.

This table belongs firmly within that environment.

Unlike the tubular-steel furniture that has come to symbolise much interwar Modernism, it achieves its modernity entirely through proportion, material and construction.

There is almost no applied decoration. Instead, richly figured walnut veneer runs across the tabletop and continues onto the substantial legs, allowing the natural pattern of the wood to define the appearance of the piece.

The designer and manufacturer remain unknown. Although its overall form relates closely to other Czechoslovak Modernist tables produced during the 1930s, the quality of this particular example is exceptional.

This becomes especially apparent in the construction. The substantial veneered legs, carefully finished surfaces and precisely engineered extension mechanism all point towards high-end cabinetmaking rather than standard serial production. Even the concealed extension sections were treated as an integral part of the table, with the same attention given to their material, finish and fit.

We have not found sufficient documentary evidence to connect the table with a particular workshop or designer, but its craftsmanship clearly places it among the more accomplished examples of Czechoslovak furniture production from the period.

Design Details

The table is impressive even before it is extended.

At 119 × 119 cm, the square top has unusually generous proportions. Four substantial veneered legs give the table a strong architectural presence, while the simplicity of the construction allows the walnut to remain the dominant visual feature.

The veneer itself is beautifully selected and applied. Rich variations in tone and grain create an almost abstract pattern across the broad tabletop, while the careful finishing of the edges, legs and less immediately visible parts of the table reveals the quality of the cabinetmaking.

It is when the table is opened, however, that the sophistication of its construction becomes particularly apparent.

The two halves of the tabletop slide smoothly apart to reveal a fully concealed extension system integrated within the body of the table. Two additional sections stored inside can then be unfolded and positioned between the main halves, increasing the table from 119 cm to 180 cm.

What we particularly admire is that the mechanism never feels like an addition to the design. When closed, there is very little to suggest the complexity hidden beneath the tabletop. When extended, the additional sections align with the main surface to create a generous and coherent dining table.

It is precisely this combination of visual simplicity and technical sophistication that distinguishes the piece from many superficially similar Modernist tables of the period.

Why We Like It

What makes this table special is something that photographs only partly reveal.

Its basic form is familiar from 1930s Modernist furniture - geometric, restrained and beautifully proportioned. But when you handle the table, open it and look closely at how it has been made, the difference becomes obvious.

The craftsmanship is exceptional.

The substantial construction, beautifully executed walnut veneer and sophisticated concealed extension mechanism suggest that considerable care went into making a table that was intended to last.

We particularly love that none of this technical complexity is immediately visible. Closed, the table is beautifully simple - a generous round walnut top supported by four substantial legs. Only when the tabletop opens does the sophisticated engineering hidden inside reveal itself.

For us, that is what makes this piece so successful: it doesn't advertise its quality. You discover it.

Nearly a century later, the combination of exceptional craftsmanship, beautiful materials and genuinely useful adaptability still feels entirely relevant.Condition & Restoration

The table has undergone a careful professional restoration.

The walnut surfaces were restored to revive the remarkable depth, colour and natural figuring of the veneer while preserving the character of the original material.

The entire piece was hand-finished using traditional shellac and nitrocellulose varnishes to recreate the rich gloss appropriate to furniture of the period.

The extension mechanism operates smoothly and both additional tabletop sections are present.

The table remains in excellent vintage condition with only minimal signs of age and previous use. The construction is stable and the table is ready for everyday use.

Please refer to the photographs for a detailed record of its condition.

Details

Designer: Unknown
Manufacturer: Unknown
Period: 1930s
Origin: Czechoslovakia
Materials: Walnut Veneer, Beech
Condition: Professionally restored
Quantity: 1

Dimensions

Width: 119 cm closed / 180 cm extended
Depth: 119 cm
Height: 80.5 cm

Delivery & Returns

The table will be carefully packed and shipped from our studio in Brno, Czech Republic.

EU shipping: €280, confirmed at checkout.
Estimated EU delivery: 3–5 working days

We also ship worldwide using trusted international couriers. Please contact us for a tailored shipping quote outside the EU.

EU customers have a 14-day right of withdrawal. Please see our Terms & Conditions for full details.

If you’d like to check anything before ordering - from condition and dimensions to delivery - Martin and Amy are always happy to help throughout the process, and also after your piece has arrived.