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Attributed to GILLOWS OF LANCASTER & LONDON (1730-1903)
A Very Fine Library Bookcase firmly attributed to Gillows of Lancaster (c. 1810 England)
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| Item Stock Code |
7509 |
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| Item Medium Description |
gillows, mahogany, regency, bookcase, georgian, london, lancaster, antique, grecian, |
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| European Dimensions |
244.00 cm wide 213.50 cm high 48.50 cm deep |
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| UK/USA Converted Dimensions |
96.06 inches wide 84.06 inches high 19.09 inches deep |
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| Item Provenance & History |
Gillows archives in the Westminster City Library show a bookcase of virtually identical form on page 1776 for 12 November 1805. Kerby may be presumed to be a dealer in furniture, and examples are recorded of their stamp both adjacent to, and obliterating the Gillows stamp. |
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| Item Literature |
Gillows & Co. A leading firm of English cabinet-makers, with premises in both Lancaster and London and who, during the 18th and 19th centuries, produced well-designed furniture of the highest quality. Founded in about 1727, the firm thrived by adapting to the needs of a changing society and recognized the potential offered by the expanding middle class market. Gillows became a large company, both designing and manufacturing furniture to the very highest standards, so much so that they supplied the aristocracy and gentry of England at the height of the Empire. They had a ready response to fashionable demand and eventually led the way in the 19th century with some of the finest quality furniture ever produced in England |
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| Current Item Condition |
Excellent |
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| Item Description / Dealer Expertise |
Constructed in mahogany, of breakfront form, rising from a plinth base, the lower section having four blind doors with Grecian form cock beading, flanked by reeded and turned columns: the shelved upper section with two pairs of brass trellis grilled doors flanked by reeded, turned and shaped columns. The cornice having a Greek key pattern with scrolled ends. Stamped ‘Kerby 545 New Oxford Street’. |
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| GILLOWS OF LANCASTER & LONDON |
Furniture makers: In about 1695 Robert Gillow founded his firm in Lancaster. His son, Richard, was taken into partnership in 1757. The firm opened a London branch in Oxford Street about 1777.
Noble commissions came and in 1800, Richard Gillows took over a patent for an extending dining table which further enhanced the firm's reputation. The history of Gillows is exceptionally complete, as nearly all the order books and salesman's archives still exist. We know that the practice of stamping GILLOWS. LANCASTER started in around 1780 and continued until 1817, which might seem surprisingly early as the design seems to reflect the taste of the early Victorian era, yet it is twenty to thirty years ahead of its time. Today, it is difficult to comprehend the range of Gillows' business at this time. They traded not only in finished furniture, but also in timber from the West Indies along with sugar and spirits from the same region. They undertook architectural joinery and fitted out entire buildings, providing wall papers, fixtures and fittings. Their salesmen toured the country with books of illustrations lavishly coloured to tempt buyers. Gilllows even pioneered 'flat-packing' in order to offer their clients a reduced price. There was no corner of the furniture trade they did not thoroughly exploit. Between 1780 and 1830, they were the furniture trade, leading in price, fashion and even work practices. |
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More information / Purchase this item |
Please email or call +44 (0)20-7221 8174 for more information or to purchase this item. |
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| Status |
FOR SALE |
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