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Lot Essay
The window pier table, with baize-lined card table concealed beneath its hinged top, is conceived in the George II French/Antique fashion. Roman acanthus is carved in bas-relief in the ribboned guilloche wreathing its reed--molded top as well as on the Roman truss-scrolled columnar legs and their wave-voluted feet. The inlaid freize displays a Grecian fret as featured in Decorations for Cabinet-work proposed in B. Langley's City and Country Builder's and Workman's Treasury of Designs.
In 1757, Benjamin Goodison (d. 1767) supplied a related pair of card-tables with Grecian ribbon-fret inlay for Holkham Hall, Norfolk at a cost of 12.10.0 (A. Coleridge,Chippendale Furniture, London 1968, fig. 371). A closely related table with the same Greek border but slightly differing inlay to the top was sold anonymously, Christie's, New York, 18 October 2005, lot 479. An almost identical table, also bearing 'Tibats' hinges, was sold by the Szeben Peto Foundation, Christie's, London, 29 March 1984, lot 68. The signed hinges also featured on a related table, with carved inlay on the top, sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 27 June 1985, lot 116. They feature again on another related card-table with the ribbon-carved edge, but different fret-patterned frieze, which was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1962 (see H. Hayward, World Furniture, London, 1965, fig. 500).
The unidentified Tibats brand is illustrated in P. Thornton, 'A Signed Hinge', Furniture History, 1966, pp. 44-45 and pl. XXIII, fig. A. Many fine pieces of mid-18th Century case furniture, particularly card tables, have 'H.TIBATS' stamped on their concertina-action hinges. The stamp almost certainly refers to Hugh Tibbatts, 'hinge and sash fastening maker' of Bell Street Wolverhampton, listed in The Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Wallsall, 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.
In 1757, Benjamin Goodison (d. 1767) supplied a related pair of card-tables with Grecian ribbon-fret inlay for Holkham Hall, Norfolk at a cost of 12.10.0 (A. Coleridge,Chippendale Furniture, London 1968, fig. 371). A closely related table with the same Greek border but slightly differing inlay to the top was sold anonymously, Christie's, New York, 18 October 2005, lot 479. An almost identical table, also bearing 'Tibats' hinges, was sold by the Szeben Peto Foundation, Christie's, London, 29 March 1984, lot 68. The signed hinges also featured on a related table, with carved inlay on the top, sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 27 June 1985, lot 116. They feature again on another related card-table with the ribbon-carved edge, but different fret-patterned frieze, which was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1962 (see H. Hayward, World Furniture, London, 1965, fig. 500).
The unidentified Tibats brand is illustrated in P. Thornton, 'A Signed Hinge', Furniture History, 1966, pp. 44-45 and pl. XXIII, fig. A. Many fine pieces of mid-18th Century case furniture, particularly card tables, have 'H.TIBATS' stamped on their concertina-action hinges. The stamp almost certainly refers to Hugh Tibbatts, 'hinge and sash fastening maker' of Bell Street Wolverhampton, listed in The Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Wallsall, 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.