Tullochs Auctions' Scott Millen said the Huon pine centre table was crafted by James Lumsden in 1851 for the Great Exhibition of all Nations in London.

``The table was for sale at that exhibition and the purchaser took the table away, and it's not until now that it's been rediscovered,'' Mr Millen said.

Estimated to sell for between $100,000 and $150,000, it was an exquisite piece of colonial history, Mr Millen said.

Because it was designed for an exhibition showcasing the best in cabinetmaking, it had been made to perfection.

Mr Millen believed this year's colonial furniture and art auction would showcase some of the most exciting pieces yet.

``We've been running these special colonial auctions since 1988,'' he said.

``We've managed to secure a couple of what I would consider to be the most important pieces of furniture that have come on to the open market in the past decade.''

Two Killymoon sideboards will be up for auction separately but Mr Millen said buying them as a pair would be a grand investment.

The cedar sideboards were made about 1845 and are expected to sell for $25,000 to $40,000 each.

``To the best of our knowledge, there is no other known pair of cedar sideboards anywhere in the country,'' Mr Millen said.

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