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A MASSIVE IRISH WILLIAM IV MAHOGANY BREAKFRONT LIBRARY BOOKCASE
Lot 232 PROPERTY OF AN IMPORTANT NEW YORK COLLECTOR

A MASSIVE IRISH WILLIAM IV MAHOGANY BREAKFRONT LIBRARY BOOKCASE

BY WILLIAMS AND GIBTON, CIRCA 1830

Closed14 October 2016

Estimate

USD 50,000–100,000

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A MASSIVE IRISH WILLIAM IV MAHOGANY BREAKFRONT LIBRARY BOOKCASE
BY WILLIAMS AND GIBTON, CIRCA 1830
Stamped WILLIAMS & GIBTON 32143 to the lower side of the left section
19 ft ¼ in. (3.25 m.) high, 18 ft. 4 in. (5.58 m.) long, 16½ in. (42 cm.) deep

Commissioned by James Gibbons (d. 1846), Ballynegall Manor, Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland.
Thence by descent at Ballynegall to his nephew by marriage, J.W.M. Berry, Esq. (d.1855).
Thence by descent at Ballynegall to his cousin, T.J. Smyth, Esq.
Thence by descent in the Smyth family who sold Ballynegall in 1963.
Acquired from Jean-Claude Ciancimino, London.
Country House Elegance; Christie's, New York, 21 November 2011, lot 1021.

Specialist note

This large Irish library bookcase was part of a commission by James Gibbons (d.1846), for the library of his Regency villa, Ballynegall, Co. Westmeath, Ireland, supplied by the Dublin cabinet-makers Williams and Gibton. Active from 1830 to 1844, the William and Gibton firm evolved from the successful partnership of Mack, Williams and Gibton formed in 1811-1812 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 bookcase, much of the furniture they produced was inspired by the designs published by Thomas Hope and George Smith.