Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
One of the most influential and successful British furniture manufacturers of the Victorian era, Holland & Sons was renowned for its superb quality. It would be difficult to find collectors unfamiliar with Holland — or its rival, Gillows of Lancaster and London — as the company was a leader in neoclassical and Gothic furniture and interior design in the early to mid-1800s, using only the richest of hardwoods and the finest of metals. Antique Holland & Sons chairs, storage cabinets and tables frequently featured rare-specimen wood marquetry and engraved ivory inlays. The manufacturer’s designs grace the collections of museums around the world and can still be found in the royal homes of Europe.
Two cabinetmakers, Stephen Taprell and William Holland, opened a small joinery in 1815 near Buckingham Palace in London, England, and named it Taprell & Holland. Holland was a relative of the acclaimed Regency architect Henry Holland, the famous gardener and landscape architect Lancelot "Capability" Brown, and the former Member of Parliament Richard Bateman-Robson. This familial edge provided the needed influence for the company among the aristocracy, and their business saw immediate prosperity.
The firm traded under the name Taprell, Holland & Son for a period, and when Taprell retired in 1843, Holland took over the company and changed the name to Holland & Sons. Holland decided to diversify and began offering a broad range of services to the very wealthy — arranging furniture and household decoration rentals, managing funerals and even providing plumbing services. By 1851, they employed over 350 people.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert commissioned Holland & Sons to supply the entire furnishings of their private homes — Osborne House, Balmoral Castle, Sandringham House and Marlborough House. The Monarch’s satisfaction with Holland and Son’s furnishings led to the company being granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment, affording the owners the opportunity to display the coveted “By Appointment of HM The Queen” mark and her Coat of Arms above the entrance to their offices.
Other Holland & Sons furniture commissions of note include the London Union Club, the Athenaeum Hotel in London, Arundel Castle in West Essex and the All Souls College in Oxford. The firm was also involved in the funerals of Prince Albert and the mother of Queen Victoria — both in 1861 — and contributed works to the 1901 coronation of Edward VII when they made the throne for his wife, Queen Alexandra.
On 1stDibs, find antique Holland & Sons tables, cabinets, seating and more.
1820s English George IV Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Oak
19th Century English Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
19th Century English Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
1880s English Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Ceramic, Leather, Birch, Kingwood, Satinwood, Tulipwood
1880s English Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Ebony, Oak
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
2010s American Primitive Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Reclaimed Wood
Early 19th Century Regency Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
19th Century British Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century English Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Satinwood
1810s English Regency Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s American Organic Modern Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1860s British High Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1830s British William IV Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
19th Century Scottish Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1860s English High Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
1870s British Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
1820s English Regency Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Ebony, Mahogany
19th Century British Victorian Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1870s English Antique Holland & Sons Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Holland & Sons desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
- What is Gouda Holland pottery?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Gouda Holland pottery is a type of pottery produced in the Netherlands during the early 20th century. It shares a name with the city from where it originated. Typically, Gouda pottery shows off colorful, ornate designs inspired by Art Deco and Art Nouveau designs. Shop a collection of Gouda pottery on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, all Howard and Sons chairs are stamped. However, the type and location of the stamp varies. You may see a name or number on a caster wheel or foot on some pieces. Others display the stamp on a paper label sewn onto the fabric. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of expertly vetted Howard and Sons chairs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To spot an authentic Howard & Sons chair, first look for a name or number on the inside of the back foot. There may also be a paper label sewn into the hessian or a name stamp on the wheel. On 1stDibs, you can shop a collection of expertly vetted Howard & Sons chairs from some of the world’s top sellers.