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Lot Essay
A similar card-table was sold Christie's, South Kensington, 28 November 2001, lot 66.
One hinge is signed H. TIBATS, which almost certainly refers to Hugh Tibbatts, 'hinge and sash fastening maker' of Bell Street, Wolverhampton listed in 'The Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Bilston and Willenhall Directory, 1781'. There appears to be no mention of Tibats or Tibbats (the spelling of the name varies) in the West Midlands area after 1781. Given that this table is earlier than most tables with his signed hinges, it was either made significantly later in the 18th century than it appears, or Tibats was working even earlier than the mid-18th century card-tables suggest.
One hinge is signed H. TIBATS, which almost certainly refers to Hugh Tibbatts, 'hinge and sash fastening maker' of Bell Street, Wolverhampton listed in 'The Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Bilston and Willenhall Directory, 1781'. There appears to be no mention of Tibats or Tibbats (the spelling of the name varies) in the West Midlands area after 1781. Given that this table is earlier than most tables with his signed hinges, it was either made significantly later in the 18th century than it appears, or Tibats was working even earlier than the mid-18th century card-tables suggest.