Beschreibung:

A Regency mahogany double sided 'waterfall' bookcase, circa 1815, by Mack, Williams & Gibton, the square top with raised gallery, above four graduated bookshelves, the frieze beneath incorporating an unusual lockable compartment, on square supports and outswept tapering square legs, terminating in brass caps and castors, stamped with numbers, 9564, 140cm high, 77cm wide, 58cm deep Provenance: Private collection, Oxford 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. As demonstrated by the current bookcase, the firm regularly labelled their furniture, and used a system of an impressed four digit number often together with a letter. For a dining table made by the firm and stamped with the same system of impressed four digit numbers, see Christie's New York, Important English Furniture, 16th April 2002, lot 261 ($107,550). For a related bookcase, see Christie's, New York, Important English Furniture, 21st October 1999, lot 187 (£11,500).