Vintage Telephone Table Or Gossip Bench: A Great Idea

Gossip Benches: Popular In the 1940s and 1950s 

Grandma lived in a two family house in Brooklyn, N.Y. with a wonderful front porch, attractive awning and a door bell with chimes that I will always remember. As soon as you entered the foyer into her home you headed straight down the  hallway towards the dining area and kitchen and there was  what every grandma had in those days....."the telephone table" or "gossip bench" as many people called these charming seats with an attached table.

  Gossip Bench Or Telephone Table Came In Many Styles

While grandma's telephone table was Mahogany with an upholstered fabric seat, I have seen these tables in all kinds of styles (Danish, Victorian, Early American, Modern) and  different woods and materials. You will see Gossip benches  with a variety of seats including needlepoint, vinyl,  upholstered, patterned, striped etc. You will also come across  Mid-Century looks, such as a wrought iron hairpin mesh bench. These modern benches are cool but can fetch big money as compared to ordinary versions!

Where To Buy Telephone Tables Or Gossip Benches 

Buyers can still find plenty of telephone tables out there and easily available on Etsy.com or eBay.com or other online sites as well as in antique shops.  While I generally see common benches  selling for $60-75.00, you will also come across  special telephone tables selling for even higher prices. And in Metropolitan areas such as New York City where decorators are re-doing these benches in high end glitz the prices are really climbing. It seems everyone is now after The Gossip Bench or Telephone Bench or Telephone Table! And I have also seen newly made Gossip Benches in cottage style, see http://www.benchesbythebunches.com/Cottage-Gossip-Bench---Black.htm

It's easy To Find Your Phone With A Gossip Bench

These tables were very handy before cordless phones and of course way before cell phones. How nice it was to actually know exactly where your phone was. It was of course...ON THE TELEPHONE TABLE! Now that is a handy idea.

Read More About Gossip Benches Or Telephone Tables 



http://adesignenthusiast.blogspot.com/2010/04/gossip-benches.html

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/going-gaga-for-141790

Turquoise bench courtesy of http://adesignenthusiast.blogspot.com/2010/04/gossip-benches.html

Top bench spotted at http://www.collinsvilleantiques.com/

Painted lack bench was found at http://haverfordhouse.blogspot.com/2010/04/ive-got-gossip-girl.html

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists