19th Century Shaped Centre Table with Inlay and Gilt Metal by Gillows
About the Item
- Creator:Gillows of Lancaster & London (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)Width: 54 in (137.16 cm)Depth: 42.5 in (107.95 cm)
- Style:Victorian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1860
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- 19th Century Kidney Table with Marquetry and Gilt BrassBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in London, GBA burr yew, marquetry and gilt brass-mounted Kidney shaped table Attributed to Gillow & Co The top inlaid with a border of strapwork, husks and paterae within multiple bands of m...Category
Antique 19th Century English French Provincial Center Tables
MaterialsBrass
- 19th Century Mahogany and Satinwood Astrological Marquetry Centre TableBy Maple & Co.Located in London, GBA fine quality astrological centre table firmly attributed to Maple & Co Constructed in very finely figured mahogany and satinwood, and having marquetry inlay of superior quality...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Center Tables
MaterialsMahogany, Satinwood
- Mid-19th Century Amboyna Octagonal Centre TableBy Johnstone, Jeanes & Co.Located in London, GBA good centre table by Johnstone & Jeanes of London Constructed in amboyna, with extensive marquetry inlays in specimen woods, and enhanced with parcel-gilt highlights. Rising from a cruciform platform base adorned with knops and having concealed castors, supporting the inlaid, and gently stepped and tapering centre column with stylized 'c' form brackets bracing the octagonal top, the outer guard band having English roses inlaid at the angles, with foliates with the national emblems of Scotland and Ireland, thistles and shamrocks. Stamped by the makers to the underside, 'Johnstone & Jeanes 67 Bond Street'. circa 1845 Published in “British Furniture 1820 to 1920” by Christopher Payne, 2023, p. 131, illustrated fig. 3.21. Johnstone, Jeanes & Co John Johnstone of Bond Street came to prominence after his collaboration with Robert Jupe, an 'upholder' of 47 Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, London, who patented a remarkable design for a circular expanding dining table with a segmented top in 1835. After Jupe's death, the firm traded as 'Johnstone and Jeanes' from 1842 until 1880, having moved to 67 Bond Street and continuing the tradition of producing high quality furniture. After 1880, the company was re-named Johnstone & Norman. They exhibited at the Great Exhibition 1851, The International Exhibition of London in 1862, and The Paris Exhibition of 1878. Both the Royal Collection Trust and the Victoria & Albert Museum own stamped pieces of furniture in their collections. The company of Crace were designers and decorators to the Royal household from 1768 until 1899, working for every monarch from George the Third...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Center Tables
MaterialsAmboyna, Wood
- 19th Century English Mahogany with Starburst and Geometric Inlay Center TableLocated in London, GBConstructed in Cuban mahogany, with holly and bois Clair inlays; the circular tilt top having radially laid flame Mahogany veneers of magnificent figuring and colour, with a ‘starbur...Category
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Tables
MaterialsOrmolu
- 19th Century Grand Tour' Giltwood and Micromosaic Centre Table with Roman ScenesLocated in London, GBA Grand Tour Centre Table The Top Attributed to Cesare Roccheggiani The carved gilt wood base in the manner of George Smith having four monopedia supports, each depicting leopards heads atop, with paw feet below, and conjoined by an incurved stretcher base having carved stiff leaf decoration, and raised on castors; the circular platform of marmoro nero, with a stylised Greek Key border within double Malachite reserves; the central micromosaic roundel depicts The Vatican from St Peter's Square, surrounded by eight separate roundels of The Pantheon of the Gods; the smallest of Rome's seven hills, the Capitoline; The Mauseoleum of Hadrian on the Tiber; The Roman Forum, with the remnants of the Temple of Vespasian; The Colosseum; the Temple of Vesta; The Arch of Titus, and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella. English / Italian, Circa 1875 The attribution to Cesare Roccheggiani is supported by Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, former curator of the Gilbert Collection and Honorary Curator for the Gilbert Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Provenance: From a Noble family, the 6th Earl of Macclesfield (1811-1896) then by descent. The base is similar in design to designs published by George Smith's A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808. The taste for monopedia supports was of fashion, in the Regency period and models of such were displayed in the 1851 Great Exhibition. The Macclesfield coat of arms depicts a shield with a central chevron and three leopard's faces. Views of Roman monuments was the most popular theme used by mosaicists in Rome in the beginning of the 19th century, supplying the flow of wealthy Grand tourists from Northern Europe. From small gold boxes...Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Center Tables
MaterialsMalachite
- 19th Century Parquetry Centre Table in the Louis XVI Manner by François LinkeBy François LinkeLocated in London, GBA Louis XVI style parquetry centre table firmly attributed to François Linke Constructed in Kingwood, Tulipwood and Mahogany, with foliate inlay work, parquetry and Fine ormolu b...Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Center Tables
MaterialsBronze, Ormolu
- Antique 19th Century Victorian Burr Walnut Shaped Centre TableLocated in Suffolk, GBFinest quality antique Victorian burr walnut shaped centre table with a tilt-top having exceptional matched burr walnut veneers. It has a thumb moulded edge and a solid walnut base w...Category
Antique 1850s English Victorian Center Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Late Regency Giltwood Centre Table Attributed to GillowsBy Gillows of Lancaster & LondonLocated in Lymington, HampshireA very attractive antique late Regency giltwood centre table attributed to Gillow of Lancaster and London, inset with an Italian Pietra Dura top, The central turned baluster supp...Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Center Tables
MaterialsGiltwood
- Important 19th Century Gilt Brass Dolphin Italian Carrara Marble Centre TableLocated in GBWe are delighted to offer for sale this important 19th century gilt brass Dolphin base French marble centre table A truly sublime table, the base is oak with solid gilt brass Dol...Category
Antique 1860s French High Victorian Center Tables
MaterialsCarrara Marble, Brass
- 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
- 19th Century Carved Rosewood Centre Entry TableLocated in Forney, TXA fine quality, elegant and sophisticated antique European oval centre table from the second half of the 19th century. Hand-crafted and carved from solid rosewood, finished in th...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Center Tables
MaterialsRosewood
- Exceptional 19th Century Marquetry Centre Table, Edward Holmes BaldockBy Edward Holmes BaldockLocated in Benington, HertsAn exceptional marquetry and ormolu centre table of exhibition quality attributed to Edward Holmes Baldock. English, circa 1840. Finely co...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Center Tables
MaterialsEbony, Maple, Tulipwood