James Hicks Console Tables

Constructed in satinwood, with specimen wood inlays, including green-stained sycamore; of demilune form, rising from giltwood turned and tapering legs and having ovoid feet; the apron dressed with vertical stop – flutings; the platforms have ‘barber’s pole’ edging, gonçalo alves outer guard bands, with segmented, radially laid veneers, emanating from ‘Bat-wing’ paterae, issuing anthemions and palmettes; delicate inlaid marquetry foliate arabesques sweep around the central ‘Lover’s Knots’. Stamped to the frames by the makers mark, ‘J. Hicks’, Dublin, circa 1900. The work of Dublin furniture-maker James Hicks draws on the great English 18th century masters, Chippendale, Adams and Sheraton. He opened his business in 1894, quickly obtaining Royal patronage from King Edward VII and the Crown Princess of Sweden. He is admired for his use of exotic woods, exceptional marquetry and veneering. James Hicks was born into a family of Dublin chair-makers and was trained in London in the cabinet making workshops on Tottenham Court Road. On his return to Dublin he set up businesses in Lower Pembroke Street in 1894 and established what was to become one of the city's leading cabinet-making firms. His clients included Princess Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden and King Edward VII. The firm specialized in high quality copies of pieces in the styles of Sheraton, Hepplewhite, Chippendale styles as well as pieces in the style of the prominent 18th century Dublin cabinet-maker and marquetry exponent William Moore. Hicks described himself as a 'Cabinet Manufacturer, Collector and Restorer of Chippendale, Adam and Sheraton furniture...