A very fine and well proportioned pair of display cabinets/bookcases by James Hicks of Dublin

With strong late 18th century Sheraton influence, featuring beautiful figured mahogany and fine inlays of exotic woods. 

A great practical size, not being too large as most cabinets in this style tend to be. 

James Hicks (1866-1936)

He was born into a family of Dublin chair-makers and the moved to London to train in workshops on the Tottenham Court Road, London. On returning to Dublin in 1894, he opened a business in Lower Pembroke Street, which rapidly became one of the city’s leading cabinet-making firms and won the royal warrants of King Edward VII and Princess Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden. He was inspired by the styles of Sheraton, Hepplewhite, Chippendale and the prominent 18th century Dublin cabinet-maker William Moore. He described himself as a ‘Cabinet Manufacturer, Collector and Restorer of Chippendale, Adam and Sheraton furniture’ and is still admired for his use of exotic woods, exceptional marquetry and veneering.

Hicks won many awards – notably the Aonach Tailteann in 1928. This satinwood display cabinet won a silver medal at the Royal Dublin Society Spring show in 1934, and the satinwood table dating 1929 was one of several pieces, which represented Ireland’s craftsmanship at the New York World Trade Fair in 1939. The President and Chairman of the fair sent a certificate to the Hick’s firm conveying their appreciation of the substantial contribution which Hick’s exhibit had made towards the success of the fair. Hick sadly died in 1936, never gaining the opportunity to receive this accolade in person.