LOT # 1899

Dimensions: 5 x 10 

Age: C. 1878 

Material:  Deeply ebonized cherry, Minton china, ivory 

Description: Phenomenal tournament pocket billiard table built for and awarded to the winner of the first Brunswick & Balke Co. sanctioned International Billiard Tournament, held in 1878 at Tammany Hall in Albany, NY.  The finest billiard table cabinet artistry ever created, and built by the most prominent American pool table manufacturers in the history of the game.  This table was proudly owned for nearly all of its life by the John Maas family of Albany NY as he purchased the table from Cyrille Dion, the Canadian winner of the 1878 tournament.  With a low serial number of 29, this was only the 29th one-of-a-kind table custom built by Brunswick and Balke master craftsmen.  After a meticulous nine-month museum quality restoration of the entire table, the table not only looks spectacular, it plays excellent pool.  The entire table is veneered with deeply ebonized cherry, rail tops are solid cherry with inlaid ivory diamonds.  Details include carved urns and reeds with gold leafed background, hand painted Minton china plaques of Roman Gods, inlaid chariot scenes, and incredible Herter-type inlaid freeze.  This table is absolutely the finest antique billiard table in existence.  5 x 10 .

Pre-auction Estimate:  $150,000.00-200,000.00