The higher bourgeoisie of Philadelphia welcomed the mahogany furniture in Chippendale style. Curiously, the best cabinet makers have not been identified and their achievements have been grouped under later coined pseudonyms.
The tea table with tilt top and scalloped edge is one of the most stunning models from Philadelphia's colonial furniture. Their carving is abundant and extremely careful.
The appearance of an unpublished piece of furniture in perfect condition in direct line from Philadelphia's notable families is an important event, especially when these pieces have been normally maintained without being retouched.
This is the case of the tea table from Fisher-Fox provenance carved by "Garver" around 1760. It was sold for $ 6.8M including premium at Christie's on 3 October 2007.
On January 31 in New York, Keno sells the Potter-Crouch-Jordan specimen executed at the same period by "Spike", in a similar conservation status, and which is also a new discovery. This tea table is estimated $ 500K to 2M, lot 1.
The models for both pieces are very similar, and it is quite possible that these anonymous Spike and Garver were sharing the same shop.