Anyone know anything about antiques/interior design? Which table do you prefer...?

[Dooki]

So not strictly ‘beauty’ but it is ‘style’ so decided to post in this section.

We have acquired a second dining room table and not sure which one to keep as like them both!

The first one is old Victorian pitch pine and a bit longer.

The second one is much heavier oak.

Not sure which I prefer, ideas?!

Sorry to be a pain but worried the legs are 'wrong' for the lovely bread board end oak top. The pitch pine top is not as nice but matches the base. Oh hum, not much help.

The first one will be more comfortable and I love the rustic table top. Not sure what the rest of the decor is, but I would go with #1

I much prefer the first one and think the length work well with that gorgeous pew. The second one is too heavy and chunky for me.

I like the pine, goes really well with your pew, nice and 'light looking', also, a longer table is very usefull at christmas!

I know nothing about either but I prefer the oak. I spent decades living with pine and I'm bored with it. However I can see that a longer table might be useful.

Like Oak better than pine usually but the legs of the first one are much more practical- less bashing from clumsy people and places for crumbs to gather (but I live with clumsy grubby people)

Those are kitchen tables, not dining tables. So to me, they look very out of place.
Can’t say for sure from a picture but the first one looks suspiciously like a rusticised replica perhaps using reclaimed wood and not an actual antique table. Victorians would never have had a kitchen table with such deep gouges and they’re too randomly placed to have occurred through the wear and tear you’d see from cooking activity. The wood for the legs also looks to be a different age.

Again, hard to say with a picture only. Would need to see/touch table to be sure. The second table is definitely an antique table. It looks more early 20th c, say ~1920s to me as the legs are machine turned and the style is more modern.

Both lovely. The legs of the first one will be much more practical. I have a large table with heavy legs and it’s a pain for chairs. I would sit your chairs around the ends and corners as if it’s Christmas and see how it feels. I think b is more solid looking but I prefer the look of A.

Pass on both. Neither have ‘nice’ table tops, and both sets of legs do not work. Also, both would be better suited to a kitchen. A dining table is more refined.

Thanks all. The room is knocked through kitchen/diner, I’m assuming that would work with a kitchen table?!

They're both lovely! As others have said, I think the oak one is actually a better piece of furniture, but the pine one goes better with the pew and the general aesthetic of the rest of the decor.

I don't like the "stick" legs on the first one. The second one is lovely.

@rbe78 these are my thoughts too.
DH prefers the oak because it’s much heavier and he thinks older. I prefer the pine because of the size...

@PlanDeRaccordement the marks are from woodworm. I don’t think it’s a repro because of the very old flat head screws but it could be.

First one nicer. Not sure how the PP can say they look out of place in that we can only see a plain white corner but there ya go

The oak one.

Second one, as it looks like better craftsmanship, the table top looks better quality too. I don’t mind the contrast of the darker wood too, as your mirror on the wall is a darker wood. Pine marks easily has a very 90’s vibe, oak is a lot more sturdy and robust.

Assuming those pictures are in situ I think i prefer the oak. Oak is a much more versatile wood to go with different decor.
I don't think it makes the blindest bit of difference whether it's technically a kitchen table rather than a dining table. If it's practical for the use you're intending it for and fits the space and decor why does it matter?

I also agree with PP that it doesn't look like the top matches the legs on the pine one.

I prefer the one with the thinner legs
I’m a retro furniture queen so prefer the delicate look

No2 - prefer oak to pine. Plus it looks sturdier and far better quality.

I prefer table one but the top is very damaged but may not be original could have had that artificial aging thing where they hit it with a bag of nails, chains etc but it's personal preference

I think the oak table has better proportions; the pine one has a cut and shut vibe to me.

I prefer the pine one, as I like the slim elegant legs. The oak one is too chunky for my taste. The oak one isn't all that old - those legs are saying 1930s to me. That said, the oak one has one of those very comfortable bars underneath, which are great for resting one's feet on!

I prefer number two, I'm not keen on the first table being longer than the bench.
The room looks lovely though and I am quite envious!

The oak refectory table looks in keeping with your pew. The length of it looks just right to me.

The base is set further back from the table perimeter which will make it better for accommodating carver chairs at the ends.
If you are concerned about the colour you could remove the dark finish and apply clear wax to the natural oak underneath.
If you occasionally need a larger table for extended family meals (Christmas etc) you can buy large sheets of mdf and cover with the once-a-year tablecloth. Those are sturdy legs and will support the weight. (My PILs have one and do this.)

That is not a good example of a pine table IMO ; the legs are too spindly for the pew.