Philadelphia, circa 1825, one table retaining partial label for Anthony Quervelle, each with segmented figured mahogany veneered top with walnut banding and burlwood half round, rosette carved ogee skirts, column supports with stepped square bases with carved and gadrooned moldings, on platform supports with lion's paw feet and leaf and scroll returns, 31 x 41 x 21 in.

Note: Exhibited San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park, 1987

Anthony Gabriel Quervelle (1789-1856) was born in France and emigrated from Paris by 1817, the year he married Louise Genevieve Monot in Philadelphia. He's listed as a cabinet maker in city directories from 1820 until his death in 1856, first at a shop located at 11th and Lombard St. and from 1825 at 126 South 2nd St. The partial label retained on one of these tables indicates it was made at the South 2nd St. shop.

A nearly identical table labeled by Quervelle is illustrated in Robert Smith, "Philadelphia Empire Furniture by Antoine Gabriel Quervelle", The Magazine Antiques, Sept. 1964, Fig. 9 p. 308; the figured segmented fans that adorn the tops of these tables are signature elements of Quervelle's best furniture.

These tables are variously marked "II" and "IV", suggesting they were perhaps part of a suite of four tables when made.

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, Jan. 18, 2001, Lot 590, $22,600; Private Huntsville, Alabama Collection

very good structural condition, some sun fading and finish wear, typical minor bumps at corners and edges, one table with replaced bottom board, casters replaced; loss of one small leaf at corner of stepped base, very minor wear at toes