American Pilgrim Table

[mart]

But  I see no distortion in the rest of the table !!  And I would not dispute the date !!  But sure looks like a different top !!  Perhaps Skinner thought so too !!  By using the angled pics it would be difficult to tell !!  Even if the high end buyers compared the two,, most would be looking at the finer details like you did !!  And there is little to compare the two tops with !!  Especially after the three hundred years of use !!

[jacon4]

Yeah, it looks different but it isn't different, lol, i would bet a considerable sum both pics are of same table. The nuttin pic was taken in 1920 and by today's standards, it's a crummy pic and quite a lot of distortion. Look at wooden pull on nutting, you can't tell anything that would be helpful and when you enlarge, it just gets worse. Ditto the back stretcher on left hand side, in skinner pic there is a chunk of wood that is missing, blow up nutting and it's not definitive. This is the kind of crap old furniture people deal with ALL THE TIME! not definitive!

[mart]

I am still not convinced that top wasn`t replaced at some point in the next century !!  Not that my opinion means much !!  Still am curious about it !!  I have looked at many old photographs from that era and have never seen that kind  of distortion in any of them !! Occasionally some in the backgrounds but not in the primary focus !!   And Nutting was an expert photographer !!

[jacon4]

 And Nutting was an expert photographer !!

Yes he was, during his life he was known more for his photographs however, many of these photo's in treasury were shot at the home of the person who owned the piece which makes a big difference. Is pretty sure nutting did the best he could with what he had to work with but, still a lot to be desired.

Another point to consider, in treasury explanatory or foreword nutting writes " About five hundred collectors are represented from twenty seven states. Thanks are extended, most gratefully, to those who have contributed pictures which the author did not make.............."

Bottom line? we do not know in fact who took photo or when photo was taken of plate # 882........

[jacon4]

I am still not convinced that top wasn`t replaced at some point in the next century !!

I hope you are right! cuz that would put old dad back in the running to win this piece. Alas, from where i am sitting, this skinner table looks as pure as can be, it's the best example of it's form i have ever seen, bar none and, also the earliest. The in person report I'll get next week will probably drive a stake through the heart of any notion i have of winning this piece but hey, it's all i got at this point.

[jacon4]

Well, i spoke with someone who examined the table yesterday and according to them "it walks & talks, stunning, absolutely magnificent living piece of early americana, it's perfect". I am glad it is, even though i have zero chance of owning it. It's very rare to see such an early piece as intact and complete as this table is. Lots of high end dealers and scholars examining this piece but no one had a clue what it will sell for this Sunday and none were offering what their budget was. We will know in 48 hrs.

[KC]

Still....it is exciting.  The dream and the hunt is mostly what it is all about! 

[jacon4]

Yeah i guess but, wasn't there someone on this board who claimed this table had a replaced top and that i was still in the running? I am not going to mention any names but the initials were MARTHA!!! Reaches for my bam stick. Pic's do not do the piece justice, neither the catalog nor the pic's skinner sent,  according to person who actually examined it.

[cogar]

and according to them "it walks & talks, stunning, absolutely magnificent living piece of early americana, it's perfect".

Oh, my, my, .... can I up my guess of its gone "gavel" price?   

[jacon4]

sure. why not

[mart]

Yes Jacon4,, I am the worlds biggest skeptic !!  I believe nothing a dealer says (or auction house) until I prove it is what they say !!  Some things are more clear cut than others !!  In this case they did a bad job on the pics,, did not show it at its best !!  I am still sticking with $57K !!  And yes,, I know I will be wrong !!

[jacon4]

In this case they did a bad job on the pics,, did not show it at its best !!

BAM!!! Yeah, they did a crappy job on pic's, even after photo's were requested, according to in person examiner. The proportions were WAY off as well, the top for instance was guesstimated at 1-1/2" thick in person but you would never know that from pic's. There was a strong presence and wow factor in person that photo's just didn't capture. I am guessing that they just do not want to spend the money on professional photographers these days, not even for important and expensive pieces, their mission is to do just enough to get you in the door. Basically, what we have these days is a 20 year old kid with a phone cam in hand! no matter the importance of the piece.

In any event, auction starts at 10 a.m. EST today and table is item #39 so by 10.30 or so, i'll post the sale price.

[jacon4]

BTW, speaking of Wallace Nutting & his camera work, he was known more during his life as a photographer and he made far more money with his camera than he ever did messing around with old furniture. This hand colored nutting photo sold in May for $4180. story at the link

http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/stories/wallace-nutting-blacksmith-photograph-sells-for-4180/5845

[mart]

I have to admit,, I like that photo !!  Evidently there were several copies made of it,, or were there ?? Or that is the way it reads !!

[jacon4]

Hmmm, i don't really know but assume that since these pic's were hand colored, each one is unique but the B&W photo itself are just copies.