Conant Ball Round Coffee Table - Wood? Value?

Hi - I have a Conant Ball Round coffee table which I inherited. I would appreciate any information, such as the type of wood, the potential value, and ideas as to the best place to sell it. The table top has a lot of scratches as metal sculptures had been placed on it, but the sides and underneath are in very good condition. The dimensions are approximately 36" in diameter and 15" high (I forgot to measure it and don't have it where I am right now, but got this information off the same item on the web.)

Thanks!

 

Guesses Birch, looks like birch anyway. Value? not a clue as it's considered MCM, which is not in my area of interest. It could be worth some nice dollars as mid century modern is hot now. Condition will hurt it though or usually does with furniture.Wait for others to post that are more familiar with this style.

 

Your best resource for value will be checking Ebay completed/SOLD. I didn't see this exact table, but a few Conant Ball small tables in nice condition were selling in the $150 range. There were also a few CB tables with Buy It Now prices of $150, unsold. Asking prices are mostly irrelevant, only what an item sells for.

The scratches are really going to hurt value on this in my opinion. Someone will have to refinish it, then no longer in original condition, or live with it as is. We don't really give values, because depends where you live can make a difference --urban area? rural? Also how quickly you want to sell it. The construction looks beautiful, but with the damage where I live I'd probably ask $75 for it and would take $50. You could certainly start a bit higher and see what happens.

As for the best place to sell it, if you are comfortable listing on Craigslist, FB Marketplace, or Nextdoor, try for a local sale.

You could point out how beautiful it would be if refinished. The wood underneath looks gorgeous.

What happened to the metal sculptures that were on it?

 

A quick google brought this one up at Chairish, asking a lot for it in LA
https://www.chairish.com/product/id/626700

 

Asking prices are not always reliable on Charish or First Dibs. Although we can see what it would have looked like in perfect condition and has a bit of an extended description which is helpful. Ideally Ebay/sold or another site sold for a similar item in exact condition would be great. Just seems like the Conant Ball tables on Ebay aren't selling for much if you look under completed/sold.

Here is a pair of restored Drexel 1960s nightstands on Charish for $4,195. Lots of examples way overpriced.

https://www.chairish.com/product/14...-hollywood-regency-burlwood-brass-nightstands

 

Agrees, 1stdibs is usually way over priced plus they do not reveal sold prices, ditto chairish i assume. I don't know for a fact but i bet sold prices are quite a ways away from asking price.
Another thing, the above example was in very fine condition with original surface which OP table clearly isn't and dealer is located in LA, a mecca for MCM pieces.

 

Exactly.

Closest I could find on Ebay was this Conant Ball table, same height but slightly different design.

$195 or best offer, but unsold.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MID-CENTUR...145632?hash=item3adea039a0:g:E~0AAOSwDmBY4p39

 

Yep, plus the Chairish example was by a known designer for Conan Ball, Russell Wright, that would make a big difference i would think, is OP table i wonder?

 

Not sure how you tell that, but good question. They are all seem to be stamped the same. There are a few examples of different types that sold claiming to be by Russell Wright for Conant ball, a surfboard table sold for $400 on Ebay, but seller was willing to ship. So maybe more research needed.

I guess best advice would be (if time allows) to wait around for the exact example and what it sells for on Ebay or Etsy, etc. and then take condition into account.

If it was mine I might consider refinishing it. I bet it would shine like a new penny looking at that Charish example.

 

Yes, a good candidate for a professional refinish job to get top dollar i would say, after all, it's a coffee table probably going in a living room.

 

Thanks for your reply. The metal sculptures were done by my mother, and although wonderful, have no monetary value because of the execution. Thank you for your question!

 

Thank you all for your replies! In the examples of this table from the web, one said birch, another said maple. Can you tell what wood it is?

I am in New York. I'd like to sell it quickly. (I am not emotionally attached to this piece as I am to some others.)

 

In New York you can double your prices.

Here is one that says designed by Leslie Diamond, whether correct, not sure.

https://attic.city/item/Rrx/leslie-diamond-for-conant-ball-round-coffee-table/circa

And here is one sold if you have a worthpoint account:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-mid-century-conant-ball-round-483347722

And one sold in San Diego with the price shown:

https://www.loveseat.com/i/round-conant-ball-coffee-table/

I would think in New York you could market this as a piece that would be a great candidate for refinishing. Maybe you could contact an upper end store that sells this kind of thing -- a place that also refinishes. Might be a quick way to sell. Best of luck.

 

Thanks so much! One of these days it's maple. Still trying to if the wood.

 

Looks like birch to me as well.

 

Thanks, Brad! I took some close up pictures of the wood grain. Do these confirm your birch id?

Thanks!

 

i see more birch than maple..

 

Still looks like birch to me.

 

Thank you all so much!

 

Hi - I picked up looking at the coffee table again and searched for and found the Conant Ball catalogue which includes this item. My previous online searches showed varying wood and designer ID’s. Here’s confirmation it’s birch. (Thank you for your ID’s!) It’s part of the Modernmates line, which I have seen on the internet was designed by Leslie Diamond. Here’s the link to the catalogue on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1650452223...624&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Here’s what it says:

“The Brushed Birch finish used on Modernmates brings out the true natural grain-rich character of solid Birch. More than that, the time tested quality of this Conant Balk finish is certain assurance of excellent wear-resistance and permanent beauty.”