Piecrust Tables

During England's Georgian period, furniture became lighter and moveable while functional simplicity became equally important as beautiful intricacy. One of the signature furniture developments of the era was the flip-top lid, which allowed the pedestal table to slide up against a wall when not in use. A decidedly elegant take on the table was called the “pie crust.” Named for its decoratively carved scalloped edge, these tables likely developed from Gothic and Renaissance candle stands.

Pie crust tables were hugely popular in the 18th and 19th centuries in both Britain and the United States, where they were used for serving tea, playing games, and sewing projects. Over time, pie crust tables' tilting mechanism was abandoned in favor of the completely removable tops of birdcage tables.

The most valuable and sought-after pie crust tables were crafted by top-tier furniture craftsmen like Thomas Chippendale, John Goddard Newport, George Hunzinger, and Garvan Carver.

Quick Facts

• In October 2007, a Fisher-Fox pie crust tea table attributed to Garvan Carver (circa 1850) sold at Christie’s New York for $6.7 million
• In May 2005, a Queen Anne carved and figured mahogany tilt-top pie crust tea table made in Philadelphia in the mid-eighteenth century reached $102,000 at Sotheby’s in New York
• A George II mahogany pie crust tea table realized a selling price of $78,000 at Sotheby’s in November 2005