Fine Pair of Gillows Bedroom Dressing Tables
View Similar Items
Fine Pair of Gillows Bedroom Dressing Tables
About the Item
- Creator:Gillows of Lancaster & London (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 42.13 in (107 cm)Depth: 22.45 in (57 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:George III (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1800
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU120424181663
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.
- Pair of Mahogany Bedside Cabinets in the Manner of GillowsBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in London, by appointment onlyA fine pair of mahogany bedside cabinets in the manner of Gillows with typical reeded tapering legs supporting bodies with a single door and veneered with flame mahogany. England, ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century European George III Commodes and Chests of Dra...
MaterialsMahogany
- Pair of George III Mahogany Bedside Cabinet Nightstands Manner of GillowsBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in London, by appointment onlyA very useful pair of late 18th century bedside cabinets Crafted from the finest South American mahogany With curved opposing doors and raised on tapering fluted legs in the manner...Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Cabinets
MaterialsMahogany
- George III Cellarette Attributed to Gillows of London and LancasterBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in London, by appointment onlyNicholas Wells Antiques are delighted to offer this exceptional mahogany cellarette is constructed in an oval form with a superb hinged lid, decorated with tapering flutes and edged ...Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Wine Coolers
MaterialsMahogany
- A Fine 19th Century Mahogany Pedestal DeskLocated in London, by appointment onlyA very fine and good looking pedestal desk, the leather top with brass bound edges, above a bank of four drawers on each side with one central drawer, the back with dummy drawers. Th...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Early Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
- Gillows Early 19th Century Quarter-Sawn Oak Centre TableBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in London, by appointment onlyA fabulous and powerful mid-19th century quarter-sawn oak centre table, now with custom made Corian extending leaves supported on the original slide-out bearers. The top supported on...Category
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Dining Room Tables
MaterialsOak
- Arts & Crafts Satinwood Writing Table by Marsh and JonesBy John Marsh and Edward JonesLocated in London, by appointment onlyAn Arts and Crafts satinwood writing lavishly inlaid with stylized foliate ornament and multilayered crossbanding. The table is supported on turned columns joined by a stretcher supp...Category
Antique 19th Century English Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
- Regency Mahogany Dressing Table by Gillows of Lancaster & LondonBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in Sherborne, GBThis English Regency Mahogany dressing table by Gillows of Lancaster and London is Gillows at its finest. Superb quality mahogany and cabinet making, it could also use it as a writ...Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- Fine Early 19th Century Writing Table Stamped GillowsBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in London, GBA fine early 19th century mahogany writing table with 6 drawers, 3 to the back and 3 to the front, with Egyptian mask handles, green leather top, all suppor...Category
Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- 1790 Gillows Cuban Hardwood Library Secretaire Desk Writing Table I Bramah LockBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in GBWe 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
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsHardwood
$17,831 Sale Price30% Off - Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting DeskBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in GBWe are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and exceptionally rare 1794 George III Gillows Lancaster twin pedestal double sided postmasters desk i...Category
Antique 1790s English George III Desks
MaterialsHardwood
$17,831 Sale Price30% Off - Fine 19th Century Gillows Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Kidney Shaped TableBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in Benington, HertsAn extremely fine gilt bronze mounted parquetry kidney shaped writing table attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. English Circa 1865 The rosewood lozenge trellis inlaid kidney shape...Category
Antique 1860s English Desks
MaterialsBronze
- English Mahogany Dressing TableLocated in Woodbury, CTEnglish, George III mahogany dressing table on club legs with lappet carved knee and terminating in pad feet. The interior of this t...Category
Antique 19th Century British George III Vanities
MaterialsMahogany