Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2021 May 30

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May 30

Type of folding table

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  Folding table from Cairo, Egypt, 1915
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  Legs of same table, folded; damascene tray tabletop lifts off

What is the name of this type of table? Tray-top tables with this sort of H-shaped radial folding legs, all attached by a central pin, are still common, but I don't know what they are called, in any language. HLHJ (talk) 20:05, 30 May 2021 (UTC)

I'd go with gateleg table, Although our article only describes an example with a hinged top, its the folding gate-like legs which define it. Alansplodge (talk) 21:51, 30 May 2021 (UTC)

Some variant of that, yes. But I wouldn't really call this a "folding table", as the tabletop has to be completely removed.--Khajidha (talk) 02:39, 31 May 2021 (UTC)

Google has a number of hits for "middle eastern folding tray table" or similar. Alansplodge (talk) 09:29, 31 May 2021 (UTC)

These tables are often called "brass tray tables" and are found over all the place in the Maghreb and the Middle East, from Morocco to Iran, and even as far as India. The brass tray (meant to serve food to guests) is often hammered in a style that is typical of Moorish brass work, also when produced elsewhere. The wood carving of the folding stand may be more indicative of the provenance of antique items; many later ones are factory-produced. Stands are also made to fit existing trays. Most of the time the stand will be tucked away somewhere until guests arrive, so it is convenient it can be folded. The tray can be lifted, not only to allow the stand to be folded, but also to walk around with it and present the goodies to the seated guests.  --Lambiam 16:02, 31 May 2021 (UTC)

Thank you all! A lot of sources online seem to "name" these tables with descriptive passages, all far too long and unwieldy for anyone to use in daily speech. I'm sure that if you walked into a cabinetmaker's shop, or living room, in Cairo, and asked "What is that called?", you'd get some reasonably succinct Arabic name. "Brass tray table" is short enough for use, and I am quite willing to believe it's what people call them in India when speaking English. I think I've seen non-brass ones, too. Any names in other languages would also be welcome. HLHJ (talk) 02:02, 1 June 2021 (UTC)

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  A tray table with folding stand, but a completely different design
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  Another one. See Commons:Category:Tray tables
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  This type of stand (some of which fold and take top trays) may be called a "seenee'yeh" (Romanization obviously a bit archaic) in Egypt (as a korsi is another type of table: File:Koor'see and Seenee'yeh. (1836) - TIMEA.jpg?).