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Lot Essay
The successful partnership of Mack, Williams and Gibton was formed in around 1812 and the firm 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. Much of the furniture they produced was inspired by 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. Some of their more distinguished private commissions include Ballynegall, Co.Westmeath, Oakley Park, Co.Meath and Strokestown, Co.Roscommon.
The firm regularly labeled their furniture, and used a system of an impressed four digit number often together with a letter. A number of dining tables by this firm have been sold at auction. Similar examples include: a three-pedestal table, the property of a New York Collector, sold in these Rooms, 16 April 2002, lot 261 ($105,000); another sold, 21 January 1999, lot 319 ($101,500),a further example sold anonymously, Christie's London, 29 November 2001, lot 33 (£37,600); and another The Irish Sale; Sotheby's, London, 2 June 1995, lot 20 ($$$). Other related three-pedestal tables attributable to this firm include an example from Stackallan House, Co.Meath, sold Christie's house sale, 20 October 1992, lot 129 and another sold by the Wilson family, Hinton, Londonderry, Christie's London, 23 April 1998, lot 112 and table from Ballynegall, sold Christie's London, 23 April 1998, lot 119.
For more information on the firm Mack, Williams and Gibton see Knight of Glin, Directories and Trade Labels, Furniture History, 1985 and A. Alexander, The Dublin Cabinet-Makers in the Early Nineteenth Century: Furnishings with Style, Irish Furniture, The Furniture History Society.
The firm regularly labeled their furniture, and used a system of an impressed four digit number often together with a letter. A number of dining tables by this firm have been sold at auction. Similar examples include: a three-pedestal table, the property of a New York Collector, sold in these Rooms, 16 April 2002, lot 261 ($105,000); another sold, 21 January 1999, lot 319 ($101,500),a further example sold anonymously, Christie's London, 29 November 2001, lot 33 (£37,600); and another The Irish Sale; Sotheby's, London, 2 June 1995, lot 20 ($$$). Other related three-pedestal tables attributable to this firm include an example from Stackallan House, Co.Meath, sold Christie's house sale, 20 October 1992, lot 129 and another sold by the Wilson family, Hinton, Londonderry, Christie's London, 23 April 1998, lot 112 and table from Ballynegall, sold Christie's London, 23 April 1998, lot 119.
For more information on the firm Mack, Williams and Gibton see Knight of Glin, Directories and Trade Labels, Furniture History, 1985 and A. Alexander, The Dublin Cabinet-Makers in the Early Nineteenth Century: Furnishings with Style, Irish Furniture, The Furniture History Society.