Bruce James Talbert was one of the most noteworthy furniture designers of the 19th century. The Scottish architect, draftsman and designer created stunning pieces of Gothic furniture and his landmark book, Gothic Forms Applied To Furniture, Metalwork and Decoration For Domestic Purposes, was influential on the Gothic Revival movement both in Europe and North America.
Born in 1838, Talbert started his career as an apprentice to a woodcarver in Dundee, Scotland. When he was 18 years old, he was briefly employed by the architect Charles Edward. He subsequently had several successful partnerships with design firms and manufacturers.
In 1862, Talbert moved to Manchester, England, where he was hired to design furniture for Doveston, Bird & Hull. Later that year, British metalworker Francis Skidmore hired him to his company, Art Manufacturers. During his time with the company, Talbert worked on Sir George Gilbert Scott’s Hereford Screen, a major Gothic Revival iron design, and the Albert Memorial. In 1866, Holland & Sons furniture manufacturer in London hired Talbert. He won the silver medal at the International Exposition of 1867 in Paris and, in 1868, he became the lead designer for Gillows of Lancaster and London. There, Talbert expanded his line of work, exploring different media and producing beautiful tiles, stained glass, textiles and metalwork.
Talbert influenced the Gothic Revival style with his detailed furniture designs, recognizable for their gold and wood mosaic inlays. His many publications on woodworking and cabinetmaking further guided the American industry, including the work of furniture designers Herter Brothers, Kimbel and Cabus, Frank Furness and Daniel Pabst.
On 1stDibs, find Bruce James Talbert case pieces and storage cabinets, seating, tables and more.
Bruce Talbert, Gillows, Two Rare Gothic Revival Oak Armchair in Blue Upholstery.
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert. Gillows of Lancaster. Two rare Gothic Revival armchairs. *The two with dark and light blue upholstery shown here are available, the one with brown upholstery is now s...
Oak
Bruce Talbert for Gillows and Co. Aesthetic Movement scissor style side chair
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert for Gillows and Co. An Aesthetic Movement scissor style side chair with ebonized dot details and chip carved details to the fra...
Oak
Bruce Talbert for Gillow & Co, . Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Nursing Chair
By Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert (1838-1881) for Gillow and Co., an Aesthetic Movement ebonized nursing chair, with a lobed top rail, a button upholstered crushed velvet in...
Walnut
Bruce Talbert, a Gothic Revival Tall Back Oak Chair with the Original Upholstery
By Bruce James Talbert, Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert. Gillows. A rare and important Gothic Revival tall back oak chair with the original distressed leather seat and back rest. The last image is published in Bruce Talbert...
Oak
Bruce Talbert, for Gillows Set of 6 English Aesthetic Movement Oak Dining Chairs
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert. Made by Gillows of Lancaster and London. A good quality set of six oak dining chairs with an upper and lower row of turnings and carved details above. As you can see...
Oak
Bruce Talbert Gillows, Aesthetic Movement rosewood armchair with pink upholstery
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert for Gillows. An Aesthetic Movement Rosewood armchair with a pink button back upholstered back and seat.
Rosewood
Set of 6 Brutalist Oak Raw Spanish Dining Chairs
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Gorgeous oak chairs with the original leather seat and oak frame. Clear pin hole connections give the chairs a nice robust look. The stools are in a good condition with some visibl...
Leather, Oak
$12,000 / set
H 32.5 in W 17.5 in D 18 in
Guillerme & Chambron Set of Ten Dining Chairs in Cerused Oak
By Votre Maison, Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Miami, FL
Guillerme & Chambron set of ten Cerused oak dining room chairs, Edition Votre Maison France circa 1960 Oak shows a nice cerused warm overall patina. Newly upholstered with a charteus...
Upholstery, Oak
$2,696 / set
H 36.23 in W 32.09 in D 29.14 in
Lovely Pair of Victorian Boudoir Armchairs with Salmon Pink Velour Upholstery
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of his and hers Boudoir armchairs in pink velour upholstery A good looking decorative pair of period...
Upholstery, Hardwood
$15,661 / set
H 29.53 in W 20.48 in D 18.9 in
Afra & Tobia Scarpa English Red Leather Monk Dining Chair for Molteni, Set of 6
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Molteni & C
Located in Vicenza, IT
Set of six “Monk” dining chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Molteni in 1973. Made of English red leather and walnut. Fully restored in Italy. Interesting is the ‘flat’ sha...
Leather, Walnut
$3,800
H 33 in W 16 in D 18 in
George J. Hunzinger American Aesthetic Movement Side Chair, Circa 1880–1895
By George Hunzinger
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George J. Hunzinger American Aesthetic Movement Side Chair, Circa 1880–1895 Dimensions: 33" H × 16" W × 18" D Seat Height: 16" This rare and sculpturally articulated American side ...
Walnut, Leather
$3,975
H 35 in W 24 in D 23.5 in
Rare Antique Gothic Revival Oak Armchair Chair w Female Sculptures in Armrests
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and impressive, Gothic style chair from the late 1800s. This rare and solid oak Gothic Revival church chair has a beautiful patination and it is as stabile as the day it was...
Leather, Oak
$3,850
H 34 in W 25.75 in D 22 in
George Nelson Desk or Office Chair, Very Rare, New Red Boucle Knoll Upholstery
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Kansas City, MO
Very rare George Nelson desk chair, freshly reupholstered in a crimson Knoll Classic boucle.
Aluminum
$3,803 / set
H 34.06 in W 16.15 in D 17.72 in
Six Original Victorian circa 1890 Steeple Back Gothic Arch Oak Dining Chairs 6
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of six original Gothic revival English oak Victorian dining chairs circa 1890 A very decorative and well made set, each chair ...
Oak
Set of 6 Fine French Art Deco Oak Dining Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of six French Art Deco stained oak dining chairs.
Fabric, Oak
$1,499
H 32 in W 23.25 in D 25 in
Mid-Century Modern Swivel Desk Chair by Andrew Morrison & Bruce Hannah for Knoll
By Bruce Hannah & Andrew Morrison, Knoll
Located in Lafayette, IN
Arguably one of the most elegant desk chair designs from the mid-century era, this Morrison/Hannah design for Knoll Studios is utilitarian sculpture at its best. Chair features a cur...
Aluminum, Chrome
19th Century French Gothic Revival Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Gothic Revival chair is a wonderful testament to the craftsmen of a bygone era! Hand-sculpted from old growth oak, it feature...
Oak
$7,571
H 33.47 in W 27.96 in D 36.23 in
Mid 19th century Gillows open armchair in Colefax and fowler printed linen
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Batley, GB
A superb quality mid 19th century armchair by Gillows of Lancaster. Raised on finely worked walnut turned front legs and arm supports with out splayed chamfered legs to the rear, all...
Walnut
Sold
H 33 in W 17 in D 18 in
Bruce Talbert. Gillows, Four Aesthetic Movement Ebonised & Gilt Dining Chairs
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert (1838-1881) for Gillows of Lancaster and London. Four Aesthetic Movement ebonized and parcel-gilt dining chairs with a subtle curved upholstered back panel flanked by ...
Walnut
Sold
H 32.5 in W 18 in D 17.5 in
Bruce Talbert Gillows, Set of Eight English Aesthetic Movement Oak Dining Chairs
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert for Gillows of Lancaster and London. A set of eight English Aesthetic Movement oak dining chairs. A good quality set of eight oak dining chairs with an upper and lowe...
Oak
Sold
H 37 in W 18 in D 18 in
Bruce Talbert for Gillows & Co., a Rare Gothic Revival Walnut Side or Desk Chair
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert for Gillows and Co. A rare Gothic Revival dining, desk or side chair. The design for this chair can be seen in Talberts book 'Gothic Forms Applied to Furniture, Metal W...
Leather, Walnut
Sold
H 32.5 in W 16.5 in D 17.5 in
Bruce Talbert Gillows, Harlequin Set of Eight Aesthetic Movement Dining Chairs
By Bruce James Talbert, Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert Gillows A harlequin set of eight Aesthetic Movement dining chairs. There are a matched set of six one shown on the left with button upholstery and an almost identical...
Walnut
Sold
H 34.5 in W 19 in D 20 in
Bruce Talbert for Gillows A Pair of Aesthetic Movement Walnut Dining Chairs
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
A good pair of Aesthetic movement walnut dining chairs designed by Bruce Talbert and probably made by Gillows of Lancaster. This pair has a nice contrast with ebonized spindles to th...
Walnut
Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Side Chair Designed by Bruce Talbert
By Bruce James Talbert, Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic movement side or bedroom chair designed by Bruce Talbert and probably made by Gillows. Fully restored and professionally re-upholstered in a quality hide.
Walnut
Sold
H 33 in W 17 in D 17 in
Bruce Talbert, for Gillows. Set of 10 Aesthetic Movement Walnut Dining Chairs
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert. A good quality Harlequin set of ten walnut dining chairs consisting of a matched set of six and a matched set of four. M...
Walnut
Sold
H 33 in W 18 in D 18 in
Bruce Talbert. Gillows, Four Aesthetic Movement Ebonised & Leather Dining Chairs
By Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert (1838-1881) probably for Gillow and Co. Four Aesthetic Movement ebonised dining chairs with an upholstered back panel and seat on ...
Walnut
Gothic Revival Chair by Bruce Talbert
By Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
A Gothic Revival chair designed by Bruce Talbert. Formed by carved finials and carved floral detail to the head rail flanked by carved diamond rosettes and through pegged constructi...