Antique Wallpaper Table Legs

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Ya’ll know I am on the hunt for an old rocking horse, right? Well, two weekends ago at the McKinney Trade Days Flea Market I spotted the perfect rocking horse in a vendor’s booth.  I made a beeline to the booth, but unfortunately, I was too late.  Another lady literally had just bought the horse.  She took my business card and said she would call me if she ever decided to sell it . . . I’m not holding my breath though 🙂

I started chatting with the dealer as a way to work through my raw nerves, asking him about some other items in his booth.  That’s when I spotted this set of old wooden, hinged “things” propped up in the corner.

antique wallpaper table legs

I was guessing they were maybe old surveyor’s tools, but when I asked him about their history he told me they were actually a pair of antique wallpaper hangers (he then quickly proceeded to tell a joke about a one-armed paper hanger).  At $12 a piece, I thought they were a good buy, so I took them home instead of the horse.

I’ve been playing around with them some here at home, and also doing some research online.  Looks like his story was maybe half-way correct.

antique wallpaper table legs

These are antique wallpaper hanging tools, but I believe they were actually once part of a larger folding wallpaper table.  According the dealer, the paperman would hang the paper over the top extended piece . . . from what I have seen online though, these two pieces would actually have a large wooden piece stretched between them and they would function as table legs.

via 1stdibs.com

via 1stdibs.com

This is an example of a full table that was for sale on 1stdibs.com.  My legs aren’t exactly like this, but you can get the idea.  Doesn’t it have an amazing, industrial chic look?

I really like the old wood patina of these pieces.

antique wallpaper table legs

antique wallpaper table legs

I’m sure their engineering isn’t very complicated, but my simple mind is quite impressed with all their hinges and how they fold.

antique wallpaper table legs

This hook and set of slots allows you to adjust their height.

antique wallpaper table legs

antique wallpaper table legs

They were just something totally unique, different than anything else I have ever found at a market.  I love when I come across an item like that; makes me feel like I’ve won the lottery.

Eclectically Vintage wrote a great post about an antique wallpaper table she found.

Eclectically Vintage

Eclectically Vintage

If you click on the picture, you can see more of her post and more images of her beautiful table.

I’m not quite sure yet if I will keep or sell my wallpaper table legs . . . My husband recently said he would like to makeover his office in a vintage industrial look, and these would be perfect legs for a desk.  There is a pair that looks pretty much the same as mine for sale though on Houzz.com for $225, so it might be worth selling them also!

Either way, finding the legs helped make up for losing the horse.

What do you think about them?

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Charlene

Thursday 7th of September 2023

I was looking for a pair to maybe buy but cost a lot I may get hardware and make me some. I had some years ago. I'm a wallpaper hanger. They are so easy and light to pack up. You fold those out and lay boards across the top to cut and glue wallpaper. So you did make a good find. I did not know if I was going to find any when I came across this. So I will be at Lowe's getting hardware and constructing me some

Paul Davis

Sunday 4th of June 2023

I to found a set of the wallpaper table legs at a yard sale. I knew they were old but did not know at that time what they were used for. I purchased them for $5.00. At home I found out they were in fact, wallpaper table legs. The worker would lay two or three light weight boards across the unfolded legs, an thus he had a portable work table..

Medora

Monday 20th of June 2016

I had a guy come wallpaper a half bath last week and he had a pair of these legs...I thought they were great so I went looking for them! I am so amazed that I found the exact legs. This guy pulled them out of his truck and set a sheet of plywood that he had painted and marked with measurements on top...instant table! He was finished in about 4 hours, folded them up and put them in the back of his truck and was off. I have been intrigued with the design ever since! Great find!

Melanie

Wednesday 22nd of June 2016

Thanks for sharing that story Medora! I actually still have these legs, they are folded up in my garage. I wasn't able to sell them at my antique mall booth, let me know if you're interested in them!

Chris

Monday 13th of July 2015

How much are you asking for them?

Melanie

Monday 13th of July 2015

$75 for the pair Chris

Jan Namey

Thursday 11th of December 2014

They are wallpaper table legs. My husbands are worn out and I've been looking for another set if your intrested in selling at a resonable price please contact me. I need them for Christmas. I've been looking for months.

Melanie

Thursday 11th of December 2014

I will send you an email today :) Thanks!