Regency Gilt Brass and Rosewood Book Tray, Attributed to Gillows

A Regency rosewood book tray, circa 1815, attributed to Gillows, the turned spindle three quarter gallery incorporating a pair of pierced handles, above the ...

A Regency rosewood bookstand attributed to Gillows, of rectangular form with a gallery of turned spindles on three sides terminating in two scrolls and surmounted by two carrying han...

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...

A pair of late Regency rosewood side cabinets, attributed to Gillows, each of rectangular form with two panelled doors below a single lon...

Each cistern is in the form of a fluted vase on a rectangular pedestal. The lead-lined vases have brass handles, removable lids with pineapple finials and taps. The crossbanded pedestals have cupboard doors enclosing slatted shelves for warming plates in one and a lead-lined slops drawers, a tambour fronted shelf and a cellaret in the other. Susan Stuart, 'Gillow of Lancaster and London', 2008 vol 1 p308-315 illustrates many pedestal urns including the drawings for Workington Hall, Cumbria, dated 1788. PLates 342 and 343 show pedestals with a similar arrangement of shelves and drawers. Thomas Sheraton explained the functions of dining room pedestals in his 'Drawing Book' of 1793: 'IN spacious dining rooms the sideboards are often made without drawers of any sort, having simply a rail, a little ornament...

A Regency brass-inlaid rosewood sofa table attributed to Gillows, the rectangular D-end top with two hinged flaps all inlaid with brass beading to the vertical edges, above two friez...

The rectangular padded seat covered in brown leather, opening to reveal a set of library steps, over a solid inlaid seat-rail and ring-turned tapering legs ending in castors. 18in. high, 34 1/2in. wide and 16 1/2in. deep. Opened, 36in. high and 49in. wide. Rooms organized during the Regency period as libraries often had floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The upper shelves were difficult to reach, so movable library stairs were invaluable. Further, libraries were one of the most important rooms in a stately house, symbol of its owner's wealth, culture and status. As a consequence, designers, architects and cabinet or chair makers devoted much attention to its architecture and decoration. Hence, the emrgence of innovative ideas such as our bench. Enter the Regency era metamorphic library chair/bench (chairs are more common than benches)! The tables, chairs and stools containing library steps were patented in Great Britain by Robert Campbell in 1774 but this innovative chair-based design did not become immediately popular. Once the Regency was established, a neo-classical interpretation of Campbell’s Metamorphic Library Chair concept started to become popular in London. Any early attributions rely heavily on two contemporary sketches...

We are delighted to offer for sale this pair of large and collectable Regency style metamorphic armchair which converts into Library steps after the original 18th century design by Gillows of Lancaster with Burr Walnut panels A very good looking and well made pair, I have never seen a Regency style piece with Burr Walnut panels before, the leather seat pads have been restored by my leather polishers, they have been hand dyed six times, antiqued and sealed The period 1800-1825 was a great one for ‘patent’ or ‘metamorphic’ furniture This chair, which transforms into a short set of steps for use with bookshelves, is close to a design for a ‘Library Chair’ published in Rudolph Ackermann’s Repository of the Arts in July 1811, which was made by the London firm of Morgan and Saunders, of Catherine Street, Strand. They were well known for their ingenious furniture, including reading chairs with writing surfaces attached and a great variety of travelling beds...

A heavy solid brass pair of ram's head book ends circa 1960s. Probably Italian or French. Nice warm patina.

A very nice pair of "book" bookends in a gold gilt finish on a faux green leather covers by Borghese of Italy, circa 1970s. The pair is in great vintage condition and our made of cas...

Beautiful set of two 1970s Hollywood Regency Dutch Apko shiny brass apple parts to use as bookend, decoration or paperweight. signed Apko . the price = set price

Folds into a stick. Wood core covered in brown leather with brass tacks. Hook latch to keep it closed. When closed its 91 inches high. Rungs are 9.25 inches wide.