Q & A

K. J. from Calgary, Alberta writes:

I was watching the show the other night. It was the one from Saint John, NB. A couple of tables were shown and discussed that were creations of Thomas Nisbet. These tables have a number of the same attributes as the table in the pictures I have attached. I inherited this table from my Grandfather, Harold Jost who was born in 1885. I know that the table came to him from his family's home in Nova Scotia and his father George Jost was born in 1848. My grandfather moved it from where he was living in Guysboro NS to Ottawa in 1919. My uncle Harold Jost believes that the piece was made in NS. The writing on the bottom of the drawer in Picture 5 says "Bottom Rep. by F.X. Tessier 1923. Picture 8 tries to show the dovetailing on the drawers.Is this possibly a Thomas Nisbet piece? Whatever you can tell me about it would be much appreciated.

We asked Liz Isaac to respond:

The mahogany table with rope turned legs is not by Thomas Nisbet (The carving and construction is not typical of his work.) Without inspecting it first hand, it is difficult to say for sure but it looks like an Eastern seaboard table. It could be Nova Scotia or New England. It is circa 1830/1840. The value would be between $2000.00 and $3000.00.