Earlier this week, HOK Fine Art issued the catalogue for its next auction at the RDS in Dublin and the publication is a substantial affair, since it contains details of close to 950 lots.
A large central section of both the catalogue and the sale itself is devoted to almost 300 lots from Castle Leslie, Co Monaghan; some of these items were already described on this page last month. However, the latter part of the event also contains some fine pieces of furniture, in particular examples of 18th and 19th century Irish workmanship. Lot 852, for example, is a large mahogany serving table dating from around 1845 and made by the Dublin firm of Williams & Gibton. It used to be thought that furniture production in Ireland went into a precipitate decline after the 1800 Act of Union, but this is now seen not to have been the case. In fact, a number of manufacturers continued to enjoy a considerable amount of business, and among the most successful was Williams & Gibton. The company underwent various names and guises, having been established by the cabinet maker John Mack in 1784. In 1801, he was joined by Robert Gibton who was succeeded by his son William 11 years later; at the same time, Robert Gibton's son-in-law Zachariah Williams joined the business, thereby creating Mack, Williams and Gibton. The practice continued thus until John Mack's death in 1829, becoming Williams & Gibton and later still Williams & Sons, closing in the early 1850s. This particular table gives an excellent impression of the work being produced here in the first half of the 19th century. The scrolled front legs are heavily carved with grapes and vine leaves, while the back gallery is also richly worked; stamped "Williams & Gibton", the piece is expected to fetch £6,000-£10,000.
Meanwhile, a slightly later lot - number 904 - also provides evidence of the high standards of Irish craftsmanship during the 19th century. From the earlier part of that period, this is a three-piece suite from the Dublin workrooms of Strahan & Co. Comprising a pair of square-backed bergeres and a triple-back sofa, all the chairs have caned sides, backs and seats, the last of these resting on relatively short tapering reeded legs on brass castors. The Strahan family first became involved in furniture manufacture in the late 18th century and it was in the first decades of the 19th century that the company produced its best work such as this suite, which carries a pre-sale estimate of £3,000-£5,000. A third instance of an identifiable piece of Irish furniture from the post-Union period is lot 927, a satinwood and rosewood banded elliptical side table by Michael Butler of Dublin.
Designed in the style of another cabinet-maker, William Moore, this is a more delicate work than the other two, featuring a typical early 19th century fan veneered top and rosewood scalloped border with inlaid twist trim; its estimate is £10,000-£15,000. Signed pieces of Irish furniture, such as these three lots, are not found in abundance, particularly when the item in question dates from the 18th century. Among the examples of such Irish work being offered by HOK Fine Art is lot 934, a satinwood and rosewood banded elliptical side table from the late 18th century and similar in many respects to the earlier lot 927. The difference is that one is signed and the other not, and this is probably one reason for the disparity in estimates; lot 934 is expected to make £5,000-£8,000. Then there is a mahogany serpentine serving table dating from circa 1770, its familiar design including a bold fluted frieze (lot 928, £10,000-£15,000) and, from the early part of the 19th century, a three-pillar mahogany dining table from circa 1830 (lot 936, £10,000-£15,000) and a set of 12 mahogany dining chairs - including two open armchairs - which came from Airfield House in Dublin some six years ago (lot 931, £15,000-£20,000).
Unfortunately, limitations of space preclude giving further information on other items in this sale, which takes place on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th May.
