Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
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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Creator: Gillows of Lancaster & London
Gillows of Lancaster Mahogany Writing Table
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
R043 Exceptional Regency mahogany 3 drawer writing table by the world renowned cabinet maker Robert Gillow.
This writing table is constructed from the finest quality Cuban mahogany, ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Gillows & Co, Thomas Jeckyll Attr An Anglo-Japanese Marquetry Corner Cupboard
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Thomas Jeckyll
Located in London, GB
Thomas Jeckyll attributed, for William Henry Tate 1842-1922.
Gillows & Co of Regent St. London.,
An Anglo-Japanese corner cupboard with open upper shelf and exquisite Marquetry door...
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1870s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Boxwood, Fruitwood, Rosewood
Early 19th Century Regency Mahogany Chiffonier
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Early 19th century Regency mahogany chiffonier. The three quarter gallery superstructure with shelves, the projecting lower section with outset corners, the twin doors with pleated f...
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1810s Irish Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Large and Impressive Gillows Hall Stand
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very large and impressive late 19th century 'Gillows' hall stand or mirror backed console. Having ebonized banding and carved decoration, Amboyna veneered panels, carved Greek godd...
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Late 19th Century English Neoclassical Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ebony, Amboyna
Gillow's of Lancaster, an Aesthetic Movement Walnut Armoire Wardrobe Compactum
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Gillow's of Lancaster, an Aesthetic Movement walnut armoire wardrobe compactum with lots of useful storage space.
The moulded cornice and b...
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Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
A late William IV rosewood breakfront open bookcase, by Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late William IV rosewood breakfront open bookcase, by Gillows, the shaped top with a turned baluster gallery above four doors with pleated silk panels behind diamond trellis grille...
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Mid-19th Century English William IV Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Gillows of Lancaster marquetry inlaid oak wardrobe
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Cheshire, GB
Gillows of Lancaster marquetry inlaid oak wardrobe, having carved moulded cornice above large original bevelled mirror door opening to reveal an upholstered interior with large hangi...
Category
19th Century British Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Oak
Gillows. A fine Aesthetic Movement side cabinet with hand painted floral panels
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Gillows. An Aesthetic Movement side cabinet with hand painted floral panels to the doors and drawers; with a turned gallery to the top and to the lower shelf.
Category
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Burl Walnut Marquetry Credenza by Gillow
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a fine and rare Victorian burr walnut, amboyna, goncalo alves, pearwood, burr yew and harewood marquetry credenza stamped "Gillow & co". Having a diamond form parquetry t...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Charles Bevan, Gillows & Co. An Aesthetic Oak Cabinet with Carved Birds & Fish
By Charles Bevan, Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Charles Bevan for Gillows & Co.
An Aesthetic Movement oak Canterbury, music or side cabinet with four carved panels, the upper pair depicting birds at dinner time, beaks full. The bo...
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1870s English Arts and Crafts Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
19th Century 'Gillows' Credenza/Cabinet
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality mid-19th century figured walnut, sycamore and thuya marquetry crossbanded credenza, stamped 'Gillow & Co.'
The top having diamond pattern parquetry inlay, fine 'Linke...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
Late Regency Rosewood Breakfront Open Bookcase, Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late Regency rosewood breakfront open bookcase, attributed to Gillows, of rectangular form with three adjustable shelves, with tooled leather dust fringes, divided by four fluted p...
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1810s English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Fine Pair of Late 19th Century Bronze and Sevres Porcelain Cabinets by Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Long Island City, NY
A very fine pair of late 19th century gilt bronze and Se`vres Style porcelain mounted kingwood cabinets.
The upper section with a pair of doors with Sevres style porcelain plaques painted with a flower filled urn, the lower section with a frieze drawer with floral decorated plaques, raised by four legs joined by a "X" stretcher.
Stamped on the wood Gillows.
Robert Gillow established his company around 1730. It was widely considered one of the most important British cabinet making firms. Trading first...
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Late 19th Century English Belle Époque Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Bronze
Very Fine George IV Mahogany and Ebony Partners Desk by Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine George IV mahogany and ebony partners desk by Gillows of Lancaster, circa 1825, the tooled double border leather top with cross banding an...
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1820s English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Leather, Ebony, Mahogany
Fine Gillows, Walnut & Kingwood inlaid fitted drawer cabinet on stand
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Dereham, GB
Fine Gillows, Walnut & Kingwood inlaid fitted drawer cabinet on stand circa 1920s
Square cube shaped cabinet with single door, with,
Silver plated etched, Escutcheon, Hinges, & corne...
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1920s English Dutch Colonial Vintage Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Kingwood
Mid-19th Century Pair of Figured Burr Walnut and Glass Panel Cabinets by Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
A pair of burr walnut glazed side cabinets.
By Gillows
Designed in the Franglais manner combining English and French features, the side cabinets of serpentine outline veneered in...
Category
19th Century English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
Bruce Talbert for Gillow. A Walnut, Amboyna, Ebonized and Gilt Bedroom Suite.
By Bruce James Talbert, Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert (1838-1881) for Gillow and co., a rare and important walnut, amboyna, ebonized, and gilt bedroom suite, each with differing carved rosettes, comprising: a triple mirror door wardrobe, 208cm high, 208cm wide, 58cm deep; a pair of bedside lockers, 85cm high, 38cm wide; and a pair of single bedsteads, 124cm wide Provenance: The famous Argentinian writer and suffragette Victoria Ocampo (1890-1979), bought from her estate and shipped back from Argentina. Bruce James Talbert originally trained as a carver and then an architect, and he became an influential and very successful furniture designer. He served an apprenticeship in Dundee and had his own carving business for two years where he learned the skills to apply carved details to furniture and then joined the architectural offices of Charles Edward. In 1856 he moved to Glasgow and worked for the architects W. N. Tait and Campbell Douglas. He moved to Manchester in the early 1860s, where he gained employment with the cabinetmakers Doveston, Bird, and Hull, which was short-lived, then moved to Coventry gaining work with Skidmore's Art Manufactures. In 1863 he won the competition to design the masthead for 'The Building News and in the mid-1860s moved to London, where he started designing furniture for Holland and Sons. His 'Pericles' Gothic sideboard was displayed on their stand at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867 where it was the Grand Prix winner. It was at this point that his most prolific period began and also when he started designing furniture for Gillows of Lancaster in 1868. in the same year, he published his very influential first book 'Gothic Forms Applied to Furniture, Metal Work and Decoration for Domestic Purposes', which he dedicated to George Edmund Street. This was followed in 1876 by 'Examples of Ancient and Modern Furniture, Metalwork, Tapestries and Modern Furniture' and in 1881 by 'Fashionable Furniture. Other companies he designed for were Marsh, Jones and Cribb, Jackson and Graham, and for a short time, was a partner with Daniel Cottier. He designed textiles for Templeton's, Warner's, Cowlishaw, and Barbour and Miller; carpet designs for Templeton's and Brinton and Co.; and his wallpaper designs were printed by Jeffrey and Co. He also designed church metalwork and furniture for Cox and Sons...
Category
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Crocodile Mahogany Side Table by Gillows of Lancaster & London, circa 1820
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Kinderhook, NY
An extremely fine circa 1820 side or writing table by legendary English cabinetmaking firm of Gillows of Lancaster and London of rectangular form having an exquisitely grained solid ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Gillows. An Arts & Crafts Oak Treble Wardrobe with Ebony Floral Inlays
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Gillows. An Arts & Crafts Glasgow style Arts & Crafts oak treble wardrobe with ebony and walnut stylized floral inlays to the cornice and further leaf style inlays to the door tops a...
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1890s British Arts and Crafts Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ebony, Oak
Fine Inlaid Georgian Secretary with Falconer Pediment, Probably by Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Charleston, SC
Very good inlaid Georgian secretary with a falconer pediment, probably by Gillows. The secretary features glazed doors surrounded by inlaid stop flu...
Category
18th Century English Georgian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany, Satin
Rare Pair of Gillows Lancaster English Oak Antique Victorian Bookcase Cupboards
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning near pair of original Victorian heavily hand carved oak library bookcase cabinets made by the world famous firm of Gillows of Lancaster & London
If you are in the market for the finest pair of English library bookcases...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Oak
Bruce Talbert. Gillows & Co a Rare Aesthetic Movement Walnut Chest of Drawers
By Bruce James Talbert, Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert. Gillows & Co a rare Aesthetic Movement walnut chest of drawers with a turned gallery to the top, with gilded highlighted details throughout. A good chest with original...
Category
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Robert Gillows II 1790 Writing Library Hardwood Chest of Drawers Leather Slope
By Waring & Gillow, Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare circa 1790 Georgian writing Library chest of drawers with desk secretaire by Gillows of Lancaster and L...
Category
1790s English Georgian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Gillows, 19th Century Walnut Kidney Shaped Desk
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality 'Gillows' kidney shaped figured Walnut pedestal desk, having inset tooled leather top, eleven graduating mahogany lined drawers with their original brass ring drop han...
Category
19th Century English Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Late Regency Gonçalo Alves Two-Door Side Cabinet Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late Regency Gonçalo Alves two-door side cabinet firmly attributed to Gillows, of rectangular form with two glazed doors retaining the original brass trelliswork centred on rosette...
Category
1820s English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
English 19th Century Cabinet by Gillows of Lancaster
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
A cabinet stamped by Gillows of Lancaster
Constructed in thuyawood and walnut, rising from lobed and castored feet: over, a single long drawer, stamped with the maker’s mark ‘Gill...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and exceptionally rare 1794 George III Gillows Lancaster twin pedestal double sided postmasters desk i...
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1790s English George III Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Hardwood
Stamped Gillows Lancaster Double Sided Twin Pedestal Partner Desk Figured Oak
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and exceptionally rare Gillows Lancaster twin pedestal double sided partner desk in panelled figured oak
An exceptionally rare exa...
Category
19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Amboyna
Very Rare Gillow Breakfront Library Desk Brass Gallery Burr Amboyna Wood
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and exceptionally rare Gillow Library breakfront desk with brass gallery in Burr Amboyna timber, circa...
Category
1850s English High Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Burl
1790 Gillows Cuban Hardwood Library Secretaire Desk Writing Table I Bramah Lock
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare circa 1790 George III Library writing desk secrataire by Gillows of Lancaster and London
A rare find, looking through Gillows of ...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Hardwood
Gillows Of Lancaster & London case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Gillows of Lancaster & London case pieces and storage cabinets are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Gillows of Lancaster & London case pieces and storage cabinets, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original case pieces and storage cabinets by Gillows of Lancaster & London were created in the Victorian style in europe during the 19th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider case pieces and storage cabinets by Maple & Co., Holland & Sons, and Howard & Sons Ltd. Prices for Gillows of Lancaster & London case pieces and storage cabinets can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,210 and can go as high as $95,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $23,000.
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