There is no mistaking the style and sophisticated design of this exquisite English solid oak refectory table and matching set of 8 Carolean style dining chairs. The table has a 1.5 inch (4 cm) thick top and has been hand crafted from solid oak using traditional methods and will seat eight people in great comfort. The chairs date from the second half of the 20th century and the set comprises six side chairs and two armchairs. They were retailed by Merryweather & Son, of Holloway, London and bear their brass plaque. The chairs are made of solid oak and have been masterfully hand carved with barley twist columns, crowns, putti and ornamental scrolls. They have caned backs and seats and stand on moulded scroll legs with carved H pattern stretchers and have fabulous colour and patina. This stunning dining set will stand out in your home and will definitely become a key piece in your furnishing collection. Condition: This dining set is in really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 77 x Width 260 x Depth 91 - Table Height 124 x Width 66 x Depth 70 - Armchairs Height 117 x Width 50 x Depth 57 - Chairs Dimensions in inches: Height 2 feet, 6 inches x Width 8 feet, 6 inches x Depth 3 feet - Table Height 4 feet, 1 inch x Width 2 feet, 2 inches x Depth 2 feet, 4 inches - Armchairs Height 3 feet, 10 inches x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 10 inches - Chairs Oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus - Latin "oak tree" having approximately 600 extant species. Oak wood has a density of about 0.75 g/cm3, great strength and hardness, and is very resistant to insect and fungal attack because of its high tannin content. It also has very appealing grain markings, particularly when quartersawn. Oak wood is very durable, easy to maintain and resistant to wear and tear which is why it can be easily handed to the next generations if taken well care of. Oak wood virtually lasts forever and you can still admire oak furniture in museums and palaces even if it was made many centuries ago. Oak has been prized since the Middle Ages for use in interior panelling of prestigious buildings such as the debating chamber of the House of Commons in London and in the construction of fine furniture. Refectory table A refectory table is a highly elongated table originally used for dining in monasteries in Medieval times. In the Late Middle Ages the table gradually became a banqueting or feasting table in castles and other noble residences. The original table manufacture was by hand and created of oak; the design is based on a trestle-style. Typically the table legs are supported by circumferential stretchers positioned very low to the floor. In its original use, one or more refectory tables were placed within the monks' dining hall or refectory. The larger refectories would have a number of refectory tables where monks would take their meals. Adaptation of the refectory table outside the monasteries travelled to central and northern parts of Europe in the late 16th century. For example the Italian artist Giulio Romano travelled to France in the first half of the 16th century and brought concepts of the Italian style to the French court of Francis I. Later in the 16th century the secular refectory table spread to Flemish and German locales. While the Mediterranean refectory tables emphasized the use of walnut, oak wood became equally common in these more northern parts of Europe. Carolean style also known as Restoration style, (from the Latin Carolus (Charles), refers to the decorative arts popular in England from the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 to the late 1680s after Charles II (reigned 1660–1685). The return of the king and his court from exile on the Continent led to the replacement of the Puritan severity of the Cromwellian style with a taste for magnificence and opulence and to the introduction of Dutch and French artistic influences. These are evident in furniture in the use of floral marquetry, walnut instead of oak, twisted turned supports and legs, exotic veneers, cane seats and backs on chairs, sumptuous tapestry and velvet upholstery and ornate carved and gilded scrolling bases for cabinets. Restoration silver is characterized by embossed motifs for tulips and naturalistic fruit and leaves. New types of furniture introduced in this period include cabinets on stands, chests of drawers, armchairs and wing chairs and day beds. The growing power of English East India Company resulted in increased imports of exotic commodities from China and Japan, including tea, porcelain and lacquer, and chintzes from India. This led to a craze forchinoiserie, reflected on the development of imitation lacquer (Japanning), blue and white decoration on ceramics, flat-chased scenes of Chinese-style figures and landscapes on silver and new forms of silver as teapots, as well as colourful Indian-style crewelwork bed-hangings and curtains. Other developments in the Restoration period were the emergence of the English glass industry, following the invention of lead glass by George Ravenscroft around 1676, and the manufacture of slipware by Thomas Toft. After the accession of William III and Mary II in 1689, Restoration style was superseded by William and Mary style. Our reference: 03869c Please feel free to email or call us (+44 20 8809 9605) to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse. Shipping: We ship worldwide and deliver to Mainland UK addresses free of charge. A shipping cost to all other destinations must be requested prior to purchase. To request a shipping quote for the items in your cart, please click HERE. Delivery and return policy: We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply. In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item. The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition. Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses. Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the European Union.