An Anton Seuffert card table of New Zealand native timber with original label underneath. Interesting carved and pokerwork base (English). Card tables were a Seuffert specialty and his 1875 advertisement in the Auckland Herald valued card tables of this design at 10 pounds. Fifteen years later inflation raised the price to 11 pounds, the tables were too small for card games, so were properly named by Seuffert for their use as business or postal card 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. Parquetry and marquetry inlaid furniture was extremely popular during the Victorian era and many immigrant cabinetmakers continued their craft after settling in New Zealand. Anton Seuffert is now recognised 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 his craft can be observed from the smallest, least significant piece, right through to the largest most complex escritoire (word by Brian Peet). Height 69 cm. Diameter 58 cm. Note: top has been altered and is not quite symmetrical