Throughout history quite primitive build tables have been made in timbers sourced locally and of the indigenous species readily available. The farmhouse table was never intended to be of the large formal type for a grand dining hall so might just be waxed and during Victorian times the bases painted to try and protect from pest (wood worm). Most of the British antique farmhouse tables would be made in pine and of quite small size for the provincial houses, maybe 5ft to 6ft long with plank tops to an apron from standing on turned legs.

All cabinet made tables of quality English oak, if of any great size, can really be described as refectory tables rather than farmhouse tables as any household wealthy enough to employ a cabinet maker and use hardwoods to make an articulate construction would not be using pine and painting. Its somewhat of a misnomer that large crude farmhouse tables were ever made in Britain other than perhaps for the kitchen scullery of a large household with staff or maybe an educational institution, All formal dining by the wealthy would be at a polished mahogany or oak dining table. Perhaps the largest of tables to be considered farmouse would be the round or oval drop leaf tables which if in the wake table category could be up to 10ft long and formed in the oval.

The French however, seemingly because of a larger more rural civilisation, did make large farmhouse tables in walnut and cherry wood but original examples are quite rare at sizes of 10ft or more. Due to the popularity of ‘antique farmhouse tables’ and the shortage of genuine examples, there are many factory workshops in France and indeed the UK who are making modern reproductions/copies. Consequently, there are also retailers claiming to be specialists in ‘antique tables’ with a large stock of these supposedly original French farmhouse tables. Most in fact are just fakes so do be careful when asked to parts with £000’s for a large 'antique' French farmhouse table!