An Irish George III mahogany 'wake' table, late 18th/early 19th century

The present table belongs to a group of Irish oval-topped drop-leaf tables traditionally known as "wake" or "hunt" tables. Their narrow shape when the flaps are down allows them to be conveniently placed against a wall, out of the way, often in a hall or dining-room or more morbidly to hold a coffin prior to burial. Many examples remain in situ in houses throughout Ireland with examples in the Dining-Rooms of Leixlip Castle, Co. Kildare, Bellamont Forest, Co. Cavan, Mount Stewart, Co. Down and in the hall at Luggala, Co. Wicklow (see J. O'Brien and D. Guinness, Great Irish Houses and Gardens, London, 1992, p. 23, 68, 157 and 192).