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Reference - Your Auction held at Clifton Beach on Saturday 12th April 2008
Item - Lot number 122 - Leather Inlay Drop Leaf Coffee Table
Price Paid - $175.00 plus Buyers Premium of $19.25 = $194.25

Hi
... and you may remember Sharon and myself
We left your auction very, very happy that we were able to "bid-and-win" this item!!

We were sure that we had been lucky enough to get a bargain ... but more than that, Sharon has a 1890's Colonial Desk that also has a leather inlay top and this coffee table was going to 'live' near that piece
... and the two together would look fantastic!!

The castors are a bit tight to move, and there is also a few marks here and there
No problem with those, as we knew about them and were going to contact "Artisans Libres" (click here) in Cairns to see what could be done

When we purchased the desk, we had two pieces of plate glass cut to suit the top and to protect the leather inlay, and we were also going to have a piece cut for the top of this table
So everything was fine ... until this morning!!

As you can see from the attached photos, the Lot Number Sticker had been placed on the leather insert
Using the pad of my finger, I started to 'roll' back the edge very slowly and very carefully
Then it happened ... the red coloured surface of the leather started to lift!!
I didn't know what to do ... so I stopped what I was doing and decided to write to you
Attached are the photos showing what is happening
The leather surface is lifting, and I have only done a small fraction of the sticker area and we feel it is going to look awful if I continue
Naturally, we are very disappointed

Looking at the entire table top, and as you can see in the photos, over the years the centre has faded a bit as it has been exposed to light whereas the ends are a bit brighter because they have been folded down
To Sharon and I, this only added to it's "charm"!!

But now there would be this round patch of "torn leather"
I don't know if it is normal practise to place stickers on this type of surface, but in this case and in our opinion, the piece is basically ruined
I haven't any experience in restoration work, but I cannot see how this patch could be repaired and for it to blend in with the rest of the surface

I understand the "Rules and Regualtions" concerning the auctions, and one of the auctioneers read these out before the day got underway
As I mentioned above, we knew about the castors and the few bumps-and-bruises, but naturally didn't realise that the simple lot number sticker would cause this damage

In summary, we don't want the table unless the patch can be removed completely and be invisible, as I am sure you can understand
What can we do??

Thank You for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you

Regards
Geoff and Sharon

PS - the photos look a bit different in colour ... one was taken inside and the other outside ...... plus I am not a very good photographer!!

Hello Sharon and Geoff

The problem you are experiencing with this item is unfortunate and we will try and rectify the situation

Either we can pick up the coffee table from you or you can drop it off at our place at Machans Beach
Should you want us to pick it up please advise your address in Trinity Beach

Kindest Regards
Mike
Kornbys Auctions

Hi, and we appreciate your note below ... and your offer to rectify the situation
That was very nice of you - thanks

Since writing to you, we have had the table looked at by Mr Iain MacKinnon, who does furniture restoration here in Cairns
We did this for one simple reason
Sharon loves the table !!! ... and we decided to do everything possible to "fix it up"

Besides the Lot Number Sticker and as I mentioned in my first note, there are some other marks and scratches that we wanted repaired
Iain looked at the table last night, and he is going to pick it up tomorrow
He will be restoring the castors, a chip to the veneer, along with a general cleanup
In respect to the sticker mark, he feels that he will be able to fully remove it and then repair and blend in the area that is lifting

He was 'a bit surprised' it was put where it was!!

We are not experts !! ... and he was great to talk to and explained lots of bits of info that we had no idea about

He feels that when it is finished, we will have a very nice coffee table ... which he thinks is from around the 1920's or 1930's, but that is almost impossible to be sure about

This morning I ordered a piece of plate glass for the top to give it protection ... because as soon as we get it back from Iain, Sharon will be piling her bits'n'pieces on it !!

So that's the story ...... we won the item we wanted, and very soon it will be "all finished" and we know it will look great in our home
Again, thanks for your contact and offer

Regards
Geoff