A common feature of antique furniture is the presence of small brass wooden wheels under the feet. Known as casters, they came into fashion in the late 18th century as high-end furniture designers started adding them to their tables, servers, and sofas. While decorative in appearance, they also played an important role in making early American homes more comfortable and efficient.

Homes of that era had fewer rooms, so those rooms often needed to serve multiple purposes - dining, socializing, working, playing and so on. The ability to easily move and group furniture according to task made it possible for these diverse activities to take place in the same space.

In the days before electricity and central heating, casters improved the level of comfort for many tasks. Sofas, chairs, and small tables could be scooted closer to the fireplace for warmth or near a window for better light.

Casters made cleaning homes easier as well. With wheels, even heavy furniture could be rolled aside to sweep and mop the floors or beat out area rugs. Raising them off the floor also protected wood furniture feet and smooth caster wheels protected the floors from scratches as furniture was rolled rather than slid across the surface.