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A Superb Anton Seuffert Card Table of New Zealand Native Timber…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Auckland
Date:
29-Jul-2009
Lot No.
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Description:
A Superb Anton Seuffert Card Table of New Zealand Native Timber with original label underneath. The base was probably added in England as most of the tops were manufactured here and sent to England without a base to save on shipping costs. Card tables were a Seuffert speciality and his 1875 raffle advertisement in the Auckland Herald valued card tables of this design at 10 pounds. Fifteen years later inflation raised the price to 11 pounds. These tables were too small for card games, so were probably named by Seuffert for their use as business or postal cards depositories. In more recent times they have also been referred to as side, occasional, wine or specimen tables, the latter because of the profusion of specimen timbers used in the parquetry. Note that this table has not been sold by us before. Parquetry and marquetry inlaid furniture was extremely popular during the Victorian era and many immigrant cabinetmakers continued their craft after settling in Nz. Anton Seuffert is now recognized as the greatest of these cabinetmakers. His ability to combine significant artistic flair with considerable manual dexterity resulted in works of art of unique visual balance and technical accuracy. The professional consistency he brought to this craft can be observed from the smallest, least significant piece, right through to the largest most complex escritoire. Anton Seuffert was born in Bohemia in 1815 and followed his father into the woodworking industry, working for Leistler and Sons in Vienna, cabinetmakers to many European royal households. Anton migrated to New Zealand in 1859 with his wife and two children, settled in central Auckland, raised five more children and trained his sons William, Albert and Carl in his craft. Seuffert's most important work was an escritoire presented to Queen Victoria in 1862 by the citizens of Auckland in recognition of her support to the fledgling settlement. This cabinet is now in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. By Brian Peet. Diameter 58 cm. Height 74 cm.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Furniture: Tables - Card, Games, Dropside, Pembroke and Sutherland