This piece can be used.in a multitude of ways. The last owner used it for displaying plants and as a makeshift bar, but it was originally designed for serving drinks during a fox hunting expedition and recently became popular for wine tastings. At home it can certainly be used as a desk or unique display table. There were lots of water stains on the surface when I received it, but I gave it a light sanding and then added a blonde stain, and a thin a coat of wax to the surface which brought out the wood's natural tones. I believe it is oak but not an expert. The cast iron legs seem to have a pewter-like finish. The design is one of a kind. I love the single leg in the middle. I purposely didn't add a polyurethane to the finish in case the next owner wants a darker finish. These types of tables were usually made of elm or oak (for poorer people) or made of mahogany, either completely mahogany made, or with a mahogany top and oak base (for richer people). Each extension is 14" wide. With the extensions down, the table is 66" wide.