Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
It would be difficult to find an antique furniture enthusiast or collector unfamiliar with the name Gillows of Lancaster and London. The British furniture company — which has earned references in the writings of Jane Austen and elsewhere in literature — is renowned for its exceptional quality craftsmanship, and attracted designers such as Thomas Chippendale, Thomas Sheraton and George Hepplewhite in its heyday.
The firm was founded circa 1730 by Robert Gillow (1704–72), who worked as a joiner, housebuilder and overseas merchant before making furniture for homes and export. Gillow established his business in his home city of Lancaster. However, the company later expanded into London in the 1750s after Robert entered into a partnership with his son, Richard, who apprenticed with a London architect and learned the merchant trade in Barbados. Richard had entrepreneurial aptitude — he managed apprenticeships at the firm, ensured that quality materials were a priority, navigated economic hardships, and designed furniture, too. He created seating based on sketches drawn by his cousin, James Gillow, in London.
London’s wealthy upper class took notice of the Gillows’ high-quality furniture, which came to include bedroom furniture, cabinets, a range of seating and other pieces made of rosewood or rich mahogany imported from the West Indies and Jamaica. By the end of the 18th century, the manufacturer was one of the leading furniture makers in Britain. Gillows designed its own furnishings and worked with significant designers; they had in-house upholsterers and cabinetmakers and employed decorative techniques such as “japanning” in their designs.
Gillows of Lancaster and London became Gillow & Co. in 1813 after selling to Redmayne, Whiteside and Ferguson. The company continued to thrive throughout the Georgian era and into the Victorian period, a time that yielded well-known collaborations with Scottish architect and designer Bruce Talbert on a regular basis. High-brow clients of the manufacturer clamored for their inventive and functional designs for tables and writing desks, many of which incorporated whimsical elements such as secret and pop-up drawers. There was also demand for earlier Gillow designs such as Baroque and Gothic Revival pieces as well as adaptations of Chippendale works.
Despite their success, Gillow & Co. entered into financial hardship during the late 1800s with the advent of mass-produced furniture. By 1903, they merged with Waring of Liverpool to become Waring and Gillows and, in 1980, were taken over by Maple & Co. to become Maple, Waring and Gillow. Today, many Gillows of Lancaster and London pieces are in museums throughout the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.
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19th Century English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century Sheraton Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Pine
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Oak
19th Century Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Wood
1810s British Georgian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Oak
19th Century European Neoclassical Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century English William IV Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Rosewood
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Walnut
19th Century English Georgian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Satinwood
19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Furniture
Gillows Of Lancaster & London furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Gillows of Lancaster & London
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Gillows furniture was made in Lancaster and London, UK. The company is best known for producing ornate wood tables, cabinets and desks. Furniture-maker Robert Gillow started the company around 1730. You can find a selection of Gillows furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To identify Gillows furniture, look for the brand's mark. Most pieces feature one, but locations vary. Look under the tabletop, along the edges of the drawers and on the backs of legs and bases. Typically, the mark appears as a stamp, but the company's artisans sometimes drew it in pencil. Find a variety of expertly vetted Gillows furniture on 1stDibs.