A small English oak centre table late 16th/early 17th century

the triple boarded top with cleated ends, the channel moulded frieze with a drawer, the columnar turned legs joined by peripheral stretchers

Illustrated and discussed Michael Dann, The English Smile; English Furniture and The Renaissance 1490-1590, Plymouth, 2006, p.109-112

Attractive patina and unusual high size. Typical separations to the top. Some minor old fragmenting and chipping to the top. The central board with an indent and filler. Drawer front with partial split. Repair and slight traces of worm. The legs and feet with partial splits and fragmenting. The stretchers with wear and fragmenting. An attractive and useful lot of pleasing proportions.
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This high table, with its concealed drawer and narrow apron to match wide moulded stretchers, appears unusually 'designed'. Whilst this table would appear to share characteristics with late 17th century examples its simplicity instead reflects the restrained classicism seen on some 16th century French furniture associated with the court of Henri II. The influence of the Henri II style in England often manifested itself in over emphatic Mannerism however this table would have been known and valued as a 'classic' alternative. 

For a comparative English table from the first half of the 17th century see The Clive Sherwood Collection, Sotheby's Olympia, 22nd May 2002, lot 248. This table features the same elongated ring turned columnar supports and also features a channel moulded frieze.