There are two distinct furniture forms known as a dumb waiter. The Georgian version od the dumb waiter consisted of three revolving circular trays attached to a central pedestal column, usually on a tripod base. It was used for holding plates and tea cups in the drawing-room. Generally made from mahogany, some varieties were contrived so that the trays were collapsible. In the later 19th century the term was applied to a two or three tiered form, with turned legs and supports, used for dishes and crockery in the dining room.

Often intriguing, is the nineteenth century metamorphic 'rise-and-fall' dumb waiter, in which the three tiers converge and convert the item to a side table by means of telescopic arms and counterbalanced weights.
Many Australian examples survive in cedar, blackwood and pine. Its descendant is the small tray mobile beloved of tea ladies and hostesses.

45 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A Colonial Australian cedar three tier dumbwaiter with mirrored…

Colonial Australian Cedar Three Tier Dumbwaiter with Mirrored Supports

A Colonial Australian cedar three tier dumbwaiter with mirrored vase turned supports standing on original caster, impressive original patination throughout, New South Wales origin, circa 1840, 132 cm high, 107 cm wide, 53 cm deep

An antique Australian solid blackwood dumb waiter with…

Antique Australian Blackwood Dumb Waiter with Palladian Panel Back

An antique Australian solid blackwood dumb waiter with Palladian panelled rail back, three tiers, incised bulbous pillars and ball finials, circa 1890, 131.5 cm high, 105.5 cm wide, 44 cm deep

A colonial cedar dumb waiter, circa 1840s, the William IV style…

Colonial Cedar Dumb Waiter with Lemon Squeezer Finials

A colonial cedar dumb waiter, circa 1840s, the William IV style waiter with a shaped gallery back, lemon squeezer finials and raised on reeded supports with two undertiers, casters to the feet, 105 cm high, 115 cm wide, 50 cm deep. Provenance: Drake House…

An Australian blackwood dumbwaiter with bobbin turned columns,…

19th Century Australian Blackwood Dumbwaiter with Bobbin Turned Columns

An Australian blackwood dumbwaiter with bobbin turned columns, 19th century, 126 cm high, 114 cm wide, 51 cm deep

An antique Australian cedar three tier dumb waiter with ball…

19th Century Australian Cedar Three Tier Dumb Waiter with Finials

An antique Australian cedar three tier dumb waiter with ball finials, 19th century, 141 cm high, 122 cm wide, 50 cm deep

A Colonial cedar dumb waiter with carved back and acorn finials,…

Colonial Cedar Dumbwaiter: South Australian Origin, Circa 1855

A Colonial cedar dumb waiter with carved back and acorn finials, South Australian origin, circa 1855, 101 cm high, 121 cm wide, 55 cm deep

A Victorian three-tier cedar dumbwaiter, the middle shelf with…

Victorian Cedar Dumbwaiter with Drawers and Metal Casters

A Victorian three-tier cedar dumbwaiter, the middle shelf with two drawers, the carved feet ending in metal casters, 147 cm high, 117 cm wide, 53 cm deep

A rustic Australian folk art dumbwaiter, eucalypt and cedar,…

19th Century Australian Eucalypt & Cedar Dumbwaiter

A rustic Australian folk art dumbwaiter, eucalypt and cedar, 19th century 108 cm high, 109 cm wide, 39 cm deep

19th century cedar 3 tier dumb waiter with gallery top and…

Antique Cedar Dumbwaiter with Turned Supports and Gallery Top

19th century cedar 3 tier dumb waiter with gallery top and turned supports, 122 cm wide, 48 cm deep, 131 cm high

An Australian cedar three-tier dumbwaiter, 139 cm high, 122 cm…

Antique Three-Tier Cedar Dumbwaiter from Australia

An Australian cedar three-tier dumbwaiter, 139 cm high, 122 cm wide, 51 cm deep

An English mahogany three tier dumbwaiter, cedar secondary…

Antique Mahogany Three Tier Dumbwaiter with Brass Castors

An English mahogany three tier dumbwaiter, cedar secondary timbers with original brass castors, circa 1870, 120 cm high, 113 cm wide, 48 cm deep

A cedar dumbwaiter, 19th century, 126 cm high, 121 cm wide, 50…

19th Century Cedar Dumbwaiter, 126x121x50 cm

A cedar dumbwaiter, 19th century, 126 cm high, 121 cm wide, 50 cm deep

Cedar 3 tier dumb waiter 77 cm wide, 43 cm deep, 101 cm high

Cedar 3 Tier Dumb Waiter - Compact and Functional

Cedar 3 tier dumb waiter 77 cm wide, 43 cm deep, 101 cm high

Victorian cedar dumb waiter with 2 open shelves and a 2 door…

Victorian Cedar Dumb Waiter with Cabinet and Drawers

Victorian cedar dumb waiter with 2 open shelves and a 2 door cabinet opening to 2 drawers, 121 cm wide, 51 cm deep, 125 cm high

An Australian cedar three tier dumbwaiter with two drawers,…

Antique Australian Cedar Three Tier Dumbwaiter with Drawers

An Australian cedar three tier dumbwaiter with two drawers, South Australian origin, circa 1855, 124 cm high, 123 cm wide, 49 cm deep

Edwardian dumbwaiter blackwood three tier with bevelled mirror…

Edwardian Blackwood Dumbwaiter with Mirror and Carvings

Edwardian dumbwaiter blackwood three tier with bevelled mirror top, two drawers with decorative foliate carved columns and panels, height 154 cm, length 138 cm, depth 54 cm

Good 19th century cedar dumb waiter, of rectangular form, set…

19th Century Cedar Dumb Waiter with Three Shelves

Good 19th century cedar dumb waiter, of rectangular form, set with a gallery back, on turned supports set with three shelves, the central shelf with drawer on turned handles, on bun feet, 113 115 45 cm

Blackwood dumbwaiter, superb 19th century two tier with…

19th Century Blackwood Dumbwaiter with Carvings and Drawers

Blackwood dumbwaiter, superb 19th century two tier with carvings, drawers and cupboard doors

Renaissance revival oak dumb waiter, late 19th century, the…

Renaissance Oak Dumb Waiter with Carved Acanthus Leaves

Renaissance revival oak dumb waiter, late 19th century, the acanthus leaf carved arched back above a rectangular top with a floral carved edge, a two drawer frieze, on turned supports above an open shelf, the lower section with a pair of panelled doors,…

Australian cedar dumbwaiter, late 19th century, with three open…

19th Century Cedar Dumbwaiter with Open Shelves and Casters

Australian cedar dumbwaiter, late 19th century, with three open shelves flanked by four turned supports, on casters, height 134 cm, width 135 cm, depth 51 cm. Provenance: The Estate of Judith Hoyle, Newcastle

Late 19th century dumbwaiter in blackwood

Blackwood Dumbwaiter, 19th Century

Late 19th century dumbwaiter in blackwood

An Edwardian carved marble top servery, early 20th century,…

Edwardian Marble Top Servery with Floral Carvings

An Edwardian carved marble top servery, early 20th century, with a low rectangular back with three relief carved floral panels above a grey and white bow front marble top, a frieze drawer below with swan neck handles and a two cupboards each with form…

An Australian cedar dumb waiter, late 19th century 106 cm high,…

Late 19th Century Australian Cedar Dumb Waiter

An Australian cedar dumb waiter, late 19th century 106 cm high, 115 cm wide, 52 cm deep

A late Victorian dumb waiter cedar with large fretwork carved…

Victorian Cedar Dumb Waiter with Fretwork Carvings

A late Victorian dumb waiter cedar with large fretwork carved sides, panelled doors and fitted interior, height 127 cm, length 124 cm, depth 45 cm

Late Victorian cedar dumb waiter 108 cm wide, 42 cm deep, 115…

Victorian Cedar Dumb Waiter, 115cm High

Late Victorian cedar dumb waiter 108 cm wide, 42 cm deep, 115 cm high approx

Cedar 3 tier dumb waiter with carved back and turned supports,…

Carved Cedar 3-Tier Dumb Waiter with Turned Supports

Cedar 3 tier dumb waiter with carved back and turned supports, 122 cm wide, 48.5 cm deep, 112 cm high

A French oak Henri II style dumb waiter, late 19th century, in…

Late 19th Century French Oak Dumb Waiter

A French oak Henri II style dumb waiter, late 19th century, in honey coloured oak with a fan shaped crest flanked by finials above a row of spindles to a small shelf, the extended lower section with a shaped frieze drawer with a fitted interior, two…

Victorian dumbwaiter, cedar three tier with turned columns

Cedar Victorian Three-Tier Dumbwaiter with Turned Columns

Victorian dumbwaiter, cedar three tier with turned columns

Dumb waiter, Victorian, cedar, with lower two door cabinet, 140…

Victorian Cedar Dumb Waiter Cabinet - 140cm Height

Dumb waiter, Victorian, cedar, with lower two door cabinet, 140 cm high

An Australian cedar dumb waiter servery, circa 1860, 132 cm…

Antique Australian Cedar Dumb Waiter Servery, 1860

An Australian cedar dumb waiter servery, circa 1860, 132 cm high, 121 cm wide, 50 cm deep

Vintage 2 tier dumb waiter, Australian made, with 1 drawer and…

Australian-made Vintage 2-Tier Dumb Waiter with Drawer

Vintage 2 tier dumb waiter, Australian made, with 1 drawer and square taper footed legs on casters, 107 cm wide, 50 cm deep, 122.5 cm high

A Colonial cedar dumb waiter, 140 x 155 x 95 cm

Colonial Cedar Dumb Waiter - 10 Words

A Colonial cedar dumb waiter, 140 x 155 x 95 cm

A Colonial cedar dumb waiter, 122 x 122 x 54 cm

Colonial Cedar Dumb Waiter

A Colonial cedar dumb waiter, 122 x 122 x 54 cm

A walnut dumbwaiter servery, Australian, late 19th century, 119…

19th Century Australian Walnut Dumbwaiter

A walnut dumbwaiter servery, Australian, late 19th century, 119 cm high, 107 cm wide, 50 cm deep

A dumb waiter, Australian cedar with fine turnings, Melbourne…

Melbourne Cedar Dumb Waiter, 1865

A dumb waiter, Australian cedar with fine turnings, Melbourne origin, circa 1865, 120 cm high, 107 cm wide, 43 cm deep

Antique William IV mahogany three tiered dumb waiter of small…

William IV Mahogany Dumb Waiter with Fluted Supports

Antique William IV mahogany three tiered dumb waiter of small scale design, turned fluted supports, all raised on bun feet. Provenance: Ex Leo Schofield collection Tasmania approx 94 cm high, 85 cm wide, 42 cm deep

An Australian cedar two drawer dumb waiter with carved gallery,…

Antique Australian Cedar Dumb Waiter with Carved Gallery

An Australian cedar two drawer dumb waiter with carved gallery, circa 1870, 137 cm high, 124 cm wide, 56 cm deep

A Victorian cedar dumb waiter, 1880s, the three tiers with low…

Victorian Cedar Dumb Waiter with Porcelain Castors

A Victorian cedar dumb waiter, 1880s, the three tiers with low three-quarter galleries, on turned supports with brass caps and porcelain castors. Height 108 cm. Width 104 cm. Depth 40 cm.

A cedar four tier dumb waiter, 19th century, 175 cm high, 121…

19th Century Four Tier Cedar Dumb Waiter

A cedar four tier dumb waiter, 19th century, 175 cm high, 121 cm wide, 46 cm deep

Australian Federation blackwood dumbwaiter. Two drawers to…

Arts and Crafts Dumbwaiter with Drawers

Australian Federation blackwood dumbwaiter. Two drawers to frieze with original Arts and Crafts pulls. Height 105 cm. Width 120 cm. Depth 45 cm

A West Australian Colonial jarrah and cedar dumb waiter, c.…

Colonial Jarrah & Cedar Dumb Waiter, 1880s

A West Australian Colonial jarrah and cedar dumb waiter, c.1880's and later two tier type with turned spindle legs upon castors Provenance: Chiritta home, peppermint Grove, which was originally built by Augustus Roe (Son of J. S. Roe). Height 84 cm; top:…

C 1850s Colonial cedar convertible dumb waiter. Three tiers…

Colonial Cedar Convertible Dumb Waiter/Table

C 1850s Colonial cedar convertible dumb waiter. Three tiers collapse to form table. Height 104 cm. Width 120 cm. Depth 52 cm

Late 19th century cedar three tier dumb waiter

19th Century Cedar Dumb Waiter

Late 19th century cedar three tier dumb waiter

Australian oak Arts & Crafts dumb waiter, fitted with two…

Arts & Crafts Dumbwaiter with Drawers

Australian oak Arts & Crafts dumb waiter, fitted with two drawers, approx 130 cm high, 107 cm wide

A good Edwardian cedar dumb waiter 3 shelves & 2 drawers (1…

Edwardian Cedar Dumb Waiter with Drawers and Castors

A good Edwardian cedar dumb waiter 3 shelves & 2 drawers (1 fitted) with turned supports on castors, 122 cm wide, 46 cm deep, 106 cm high