.jpg?w=1)
拍品专文
The table is conceived in the George IV French/antique manner popularised by George Smith's Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1826. Its plinth is carved with Grecian ribbon-frets, while the frieze is enriched with palm-flowers emerging from scrolled acanthus tendrils. Its palm-flowered trestles are festooned with poetic-laurels, appropriate to a library or drawing-room.
The table is likely to have been commissioned by James Gibbons (d.1846) for the great drawing-room of his Regency villa, Ballynegall, County Westmeath. It was almost certainly supplied by the leading Dublin firm of Mack, Williams and Gibton of Stafford Street whose label appears on other pieces from the house. The house passed on Gibbons' death to his wife's nephew, J.W.M. Berry and was later inherited in 1855 by T.J. Smyth. The table, together with a huge mirror of similar style, was photographed at the house in the early 1960s, when Ballynegall still remained in the possession of the Smyth family.
The successful partnership of Mack, Williams and Gibton was formed in around 1812 and flourished under this name until the death of John Mack in 1829. The firm is recognized for the superb timbers employed and their high quality of workmanship which is often compared to Gillows of Lancaster and London. As with this piece, much of the furniture they produced was inspired by the designs published by Thomas Hope and George Smith. The original partners John Mack and Robert Gibton are listed in the Dublin directories individually from 1784 and 1790, respectively, and appear to have come into partnership from 1803. They were appointed 'Upholsterers & Cabinet Makers to his Majesty, His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and His Majesty's Board of Works' in 1806 and the firm retained this Royal Warranty for many years, supplying and restoring furniture for important public buildings in Ireland including the Four Courts, the War office, the Barracks Office, Dublin Castle and the Treasury and Viceregal Lodge.
Mack, Williams and Gibton regularly labelled their furniture, and used a system of an impressed four-digit number together with a letter as appears on this piece.
The table is likely to have been commissioned by James Gibbons (d.1846) for the great drawing-room of his Regency villa, Ballynegall, County Westmeath. It was almost certainly supplied by the leading Dublin firm of Mack, Williams and Gibton of Stafford Street whose label appears on other pieces from the house. The house passed on Gibbons' death to his wife's nephew, J.W.M. Berry and was later inherited in 1855 by T.J. Smyth. The table, together with a huge mirror of similar style, was photographed at the house in the early 1960s, when Ballynegall still remained in the possession of the Smyth family.
The successful partnership of Mack, Williams and Gibton was formed in around 1812 and flourished under this name until the death of John Mack in 1829. The firm is recognized for the superb timbers employed and their high quality of workmanship which is often compared to Gillows of Lancaster and London. As with this piece, much of the furniture they produced was inspired by the designs published by Thomas Hope and George Smith. The original partners John Mack and Robert Gibton are listed in the Dublin directories individually from 1784 and 1790, respectively, and appear to have come into partnership from 1803. They were appointed 'Upholsterers & Cabinet Makers to his Majesty, His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and His Majesty's Board of Works' in 1806 and the firm retained this Royal Warranty for many years, supplying and restoring furniture for important public buildings in Ireland including the Four Courts, the War office, the Barracks Office, Dublin Castle and the Treasury and Viceregal Lodge.
Mack, Williams and Gibton regularly labelled their furniture, and used a system of an impressed four-digit number together with a letter as appears on this piece.