"Tops are often amont the finest artistic expressions of the period from which they date—whether pietre dure in the Renaissance, micromosaic in the Neoclassical period or rare marble slabs in the Baroque," says antiques dealer Carlton Hobbs. From May 13 through 22, Hobbs's Manhattan gallery is hosting a show of 25 tabletops featuring examples from each of those eras. Prices range from $84,000 to $1.65 million. The latter tag is attached to the Woodhall Park table, which has an Italian Renaissance pietre dure surface that bears striking similarities to the prized Farnese Table in New York's Metropolitan Museum. The piece mounts a side table attributed to the English designer Thomas Leverton (1743-1824).

With its spectacular examples, no one should miss this show. What's more, the gallery itself is worth a look-- it's a former Vanderbilt mansion with 51 rooms and Hobbs has restored it to a level of grandeur rarely surpassed in this town. Carlton Hobbs is at 60 East 93rd Street in Manhattan.