The trestle dining table actually dates back to ancient Rome, where stacks of stone and a stone slab made up a dining space.
By the 12th Century, the form had been adapted to wood, and consisted of connected planks on top of trestle-type legs, all of which could be disassembled and set aside – a valuable feature in the Middle Ages, when interior space was at a premium for all but those who were rich enough to build their own castles.
The design persisted, and was particularly easy for American settlers to adapt, requiring only planks for the legs, center stretcher and top, all supported on solid trestle-type feet. In fact, the oldest (or at least most common) form of trestle is a sawhorse, and the word itself comes from the Latin word for a crossbeam. Trestle tables have the advantage of two supports, rather than four legs, which makes seating people around a trestle table easier – no one has to fight for space with a table leg.
Erik Organic’s modern interpretation of this Early American classic retains all the solid good looks and simple functionality of the tables of yesteryear, evident in the sturdiness of the 1.5-inch thick tabletops supported by massively squared and keyed uprights. Then, Amish furniture artisans cleverly shape the trestle “feet” so that the eye is drawn away from the squared lines and into a sense of splendid symmetry.
Beyond the actual trestle table, Erik Organic offers several dining table designs that echo the trestle styling but take it to the next level. These include the Woodland with its pillared uprights and modified trestle base, the Santego with its narrow, planked uprights and slim trestle feet reminiscent of the refectory tables in a Medieval monastery, and the Tuscany dining table, which adds interesting design details to the essential trestle motif.
Whichever your choice, rest assured that Erik Organic’s Amish furniture craftsmen have created an heirloom quality piece of furniture designed to satisfy your demand for quality and comfort now and into the distant future.
