Butchoff

Artist / Maker / Factory

Attributed to GILLOWS OF LANCASTER & LONDON (1730-1903)

Dimensions

66.00cm wide   107.00cm high   41.00cm deep (25.98 inches wide  42.13 inches high  16.14 inches deep)

Description

Constructed in a finely figured mahogany, rising from tapering legs fitted with sleeve castors, the bases having blind cupboards, dressed with pleated silk, and flanked by tapered and reeded columns, with oblate knopped finials, and fitted with fine cast brass carrying handles: over, two deep shelves, and the platforms with three quarter shaped galleries.

Provenance

‘Gillows of Lancaster & London’ by Susan E Stuart, and published by the Antique Collectors Club in 2008, illustrates under plate 492, p380, Volume 1, a ‘Moving Library Bookcase’ of strikingly similar design, supplied by Gillows in 1813.

Literature

The founder of the Gillows dynasty, Robert (1704-1772) rose from humble beginnings as a provincial joiner, and evolved into a consummate businessman following a pursuit of excellence throughout his life.
Founding his business in 1730 he expanded his furniture making activities to include the direct import of quality West Indian timbers especially the finest mahogany. His talents as both a cabinetmaker as well as innovative designer brought him early success, and, bringing his two sons, Richard & Robert, into the business, he expanded his Lancaster showroom, to include another in London’s Oxford Street. The clientele now included the Government, the aristocracy and the burgeoning middle classes. His furniture had gained its’ reputation for excellence of workmanship, and materials employed, and coupled with his insistence on being at the cutting edge of design kept the company to the fore throughout its’ one hundred and seventy year history from 1730 until its’ amalgamation with Messrs S.J. Waring in 1900. Throughout this period it was the largest manufactory of furniture in England. The fortuitous survival of the Gillows records in their Estimate Sketch Books show over 20,000 designs and are preserved in the City of Westminster Library. Furniture made by Gillows is to be found in Royal collections and museums throughout the world.