Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
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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1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
Late 19th Century English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
1870s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Rosewood
1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
1880s English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Cane, Beech, Giltwood, Paint
Early 1800s English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Wood
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Leather, Walnut
1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
19th Century Great Britain (UK) Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Leather, Hardwood
19th Century English Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
20th Century American Louis XV Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 20th Century American Gothic Revival Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
1950s American Vintage Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
20th Century English Gothic Revival Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Wood, Oak, Pine
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
Early 19th Century English Rococo Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Cane, Rosewood
19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
19th Century British Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Upholstery, Oak
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Oak
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Walnut
19th Century British Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Velvet, Mahogany
1810s English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Mahogany
19th Century English George II Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Elm, Walnut
1810s English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Brass
Early 1800s English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Armchairs
Mahogany, Giltwood