Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
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.
1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
1850s British Victorian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Early 19th Century English Rococo Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Rosewood
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Mid-19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Mid-19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
1870s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
1920s Renaissance Revival Vintage Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Walnut
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1890s English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Rattan, Oak
1810s English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Muslin, Mahogany
1970s Spanish Brutalist Vintage Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Oak
1820s British Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Hardwood
1930s Dutch Gothic Revival Vintage Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Mid-19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Oak
19th Century English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century English Regency Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century British Georgian Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Walnut
19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Gillows of Lancaster & London Dining Room Chairs
Walnut