Dining tables were first used by the Egyptians. The first dining tables were platforms of wood or metal where food was heaped on. There was no concept of sitting on chairs around the table. Everyone used to come together, gather their food and sat on the ground or chairs and ate their food. The first proper concept of dining tables was evolved in the Grecian period. The Greeks piled their food on the table, sat on chairs around the table and ate together amid a lot of chatting and general conversation. After they finished their food, the tables were pushed under the bed. They used marble, metals like bronze and silver alloys and wood to make these tables and the shape was rectangular. The Romans invented semi-circular tables and called them mensa lunata. Over food and drinks, many strategies and plans were devised around these tables.
During the middle ages, there were not many innovations when it came to dining tables. The shapes remained as they were and wood and metals were still used to make these tables. However, the Great Halls came into being. The nobility in Britain and the rest of Europe resided in castles that held a large population. In the dining room, there used to be a raised dais where the family members used to sit and eat. On the lower tables, the rest of the castle population was seated. It was during this time that the trestle tables came into being. For seating, benches were used.
In the modern era, in most of the countries, the kitchen doubles up as the dining room. A large dining table is usually placed in the middle of the kitchen. Separate chairs are placed along the table and food is served fresh from the oven. In the larger homes, there is a separate dining room that is used for formal dinner occasions. Traditionally in England, the food is eaten in the dining rooms on Sundays. On the other days of the week, the kitchen works fine.
The modern dining tables range from small to very large. There are tables that can seat 4 people and there are tables that can seat in excess of 20 people. The typical dining tables are made of metals and wood. Glass is also an important element in making the dining tables of today.
Dining tables have always been the symbol of status. These days, they have become fashion statements too. The more one spends, the better is the quality of the table and the facilities associated with the table. Phrases like brunch and power dinner have come into being. Many strategies are planned on the dining tables and over the years, dining tables have been the place where the family gathers in the morning or at the end of the day, talking about the happenings of the day or conversing in general. Humans are social animals and a dining table is the perfect place to exercise their habit of being among other humans.
During the middle ages, there were not many innovations when it came to dining tables. The shapes remained as they were and wood and metals were still used to make these tables. However, the Great Halls came into being. The nobility in Britain and the rest of Europe resided in castles that held a large population. In the dining room, there used to be a raised dais where the family members used to sit and eat. On the lower tables, the rest of the castle population was seated. It was during this time that the trestle tables came into being. For seating, benches were used.
In the modern era, in most of the countries, the kitchen doubles up as the dining room. A large dining table is usually placed in the middle of the kitchen. Separate chairs are placed along the table and food is served fresh from the oven. In the larger homes, there is a separate dining room that is used for formal dinner occasions. Traditionally in England, the food is eaten in the dining rooms on Sundays. On the other days of the week, the kitchen works fine.
The modern dining tables range from small to very large. There are tables that can seat 4 people and there are tables that can seat in excess of 20 people. The typical dining tables are made of metals and wood. Glass is also an important element in making the dining tables of today.
Dining tables have always been the symbol of status. These days, they have become fashion statements too. The more one spends, the better is the quality of the table and the facilities associated with the table. Phrases like brunch and power dinner have come into being. Many strategies are planned on the dining tables and over the years, dining tables have been the place where the family gathers in the morning or at the end of the day, talking about the happenings of the day or conversing in general. Humans are social animals and a dining table is the perfect place to exercise their habit of being among other humans.