Battle of the Tea Tables

Tomorrow at Christie's sale of American Furniture a small mahogany tea table will be sold for over 2 million dollars. In January, another, almost identical piece will sell at Sotheby's.

The two tables were both made around 1760 in the same Philadelphia shop, where they were both carved by an unknown artist, now known as the Garvin Carver. From their creation, they both descended through different branches of the same family, staying in those families until today. And now, it's such a coincidence that the two biggest auction houses in New York each have one up for sale, that it's all anyone has been talking about at both Christie's and Sotheby's.

This morning I took a look at the Sotheby's table with Leslie Keno (of Antiques Roadshow fame!) and he was clearly in love... with the table. He pointed out the gorgeous scale and lines of the piece, and the characteristic beauty of the Garvin Carver's acanthus leaf motifs on the legs, where even parts not readily visible to the casual viewer are carved. The surface of the table is beautiful, with a pie-crust edge of contrasting straight edges and scalloped curves. This table was included in the 1935 "Blue Book of Philadelphia Furniture" in which William Macpherson Hornor called it "the acme of perfection." According to Keno, that definition still stands.

When I arrived at Christie's, their table was on the floor in pieces. John Hays, head of their furniture department was unscrewing part of the top to show the color of the wood underneath. "I've had it apart so many times, I'm starting to worry!" he said, although it is a standard practice for both auction houses to let clients see all parts of the items for sale, and if that means taking it apart...so be it. It gave me a good opportunity to see the original screws, obviously hand-made themselves, and original to the table. This table also has its original surface, though with a much darker, rough patina, with one big crack running down the center of the top. A result of natural wear and age, such a crack wouldn't necessarily detract from the value, but because there is a more intact-looking table over at Sotheby's, it may be a factor that makes buyers wait until January. However, in Christie's favor, their table does have obviously deeper, crisper carving on the legs, and its original casters--almost unheard of.

With each table estimated at between 2 and 4 million dollars, what will happen tomorrow? Will bidding be fierce at Christie's and the table go for a record amount? Or, will bidders be more hesitant, holding out for the table at Sotheby's in January? Each is a gem. Each worthy of a museum--hopefully that's where one will end up. It's going to be fun to see what happens!