A friend wants to describe these tables for an auction but has no idea what to call them.
I’d probably call those a stackable set of plant stands, rather than a table.
If they were a single piece, it would be a three-tier table, and if the edges were fancy, it could be a pie crust table, but what your friend has is neither of those.
Some dimensions would be nice, but they look like they’re coffee table height. And the tabletops look like repurposed cable spools.
They have a diameter/height of 33.5 by 8, 27.5 by 15.5 and 25.5 by 12. Different construction and legs, probably not constructed as a set.
Purchased in an antique store in the Memphis area.
I can’t access the link from work, but from your descriptions and the other posts, could it be a nest of tables? I will try to remember to check back in when I get home to see if I was right.
No, not a nest. Each table has its own design and construction, quite rough and abused looking distressed and well used.
They are currently used as a stack of plant shelves but built for some other, individual purpose - perhaps for some trade or craft.
I would use the phrase “Stackable occasional tables” (also slip in the words “round” and “graduated”) but it’s not a standard configuration that I’ve ever seen.
Yes, now I have seen the pictures you are quite right - it was a bit of a shot in the dark (literally), sorry. I think I would go with “set of 3 stackable occasional tables” and include the dimensions.
They look a bit like barrel top tables - made from the lids of old wooden barrels (casks)
Are the edges tapered?
Nope. Squared edged.
The mystery seems to be what was their original purpose. Individually constructed/not a set, to low for table use, to wide for a stool…
Could they have been specific to some trade or activity?
Arts and Craft stackable table set. Something someone made in there wood shop and sold at a stand at a market back in the 70’s. Might be worth $50 to the right person as long as they are not wobbly.
Could also be described as a Primitive. Sort of the same thing as Arts and Craft but denotes something functional and handmade by some handyman for use around the homestead.