Fine Gillow & Co Walnut Centre Table with an Octagonal Top and Lion Paw Feet
View Similar Items
Fine Gillow & Co Walnut Centre Table with an Octagonal Top and Lion Paw Feet
About the Item
- Creator:Gillows of Lancaster & London (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.14 in (74 cm)Width: 38.59 in (98 cm)Depth: 38.59 in (98 cm)
- Style:Aesthetic Movement (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1890
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. minor refinishing.
- Seller Location:Northwich, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 60971stDibs: LU5177129353832
Gillows of Lancaster & London
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.
Find antique Gillows of Lancaster and London furniture on 1stDibs.
- Gillow and Co. Oak Octagonal Table, England, circa 1860By Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in Oxford, GBDescription Stamped and numbered oak octagonal drum Gillow and Co. pedestal table, circa 1860. Untouched and 100% authentic with just shy of 160 years of...Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Center Tables
MaterialsOak
- Aesthetic Movement Walnut Octagonal Centre Table with Turned and Fluted LegsBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in London, GBGillows of Lancaster, attributed. An Aesthetic Movement walnut octagonal centre table with turned and fluted legs united by a lower square shelf with a turned gallery around, and la...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Center Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Gillows attr, Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Mahogany Centre Table with Amboyna topBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in London, GBGillows attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Mahogany Octagonal Centre Table with a wonderful burr Amboyna top with line inlay and ebonized to the edges. The four turned legs...Category
Antique 1880s English Aesthetic Movement Center Tables
MaterialsMahogany, Walnut
- Gillows attr, An Aesthetic Movement octagonal walnut eight leg centre tableBy Gillows of Lancaster & London, Henry William BatleyLocated in London, GBGillows attributed, in the style of H W Batley. An Aesthetic Movement octagonal Mahogany eight leg centre table with shaped supports below the top and four ...Category
Antique 1880s English Aesthetic Movement Side Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- Regency Gillow Rosewood Centre TableBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in Shipston-On-Stour, GB An exceptional Regency Rosewood Gillow Centre Table, the top having well figured timber and carved gadrooned moulded edge with a nice shallow fr...Category
Antique 1830s English Regency Center Tables
MaterialsRosewood
- English Mahogany Tilt Top Center Table with Lions Paw Feet, Circa 1820Located in Hollywood, SCEnglish mahogany tilt top center table with octagon shaped pedestal, tripod base, and resting on the original lion's paw feet with brass casters. Table has original brass locking mec...Category
Antique 1820s English George IV Center Tables
MaterialsBrass