Gillows George III Mahogany Library Secretaire Cabinet

No: 408W GILLOWS OF LANCASTER

A GEORGE III MAHOGANY LIBRARY SECRETAIRE CABINET attributed to Gillows, the hinged top with reeded edge and adjusting on two ratchets with a detachable and opposable reading rest, comprised of two adjustable ratcheted stands with brass feet/ratchets, above one long deep secretaire drawer simulated as long and short drawers and incorporating a baize covered writing slide with fall, and pushing forward to reveal a well flanked by six lidded boxes with inlaid ovals with the letters of the alphabet and also concealing secret compartments to the back, all above six short drawers flanking a recessed cupboard door enclosing vertical sliding divisions, dummy drawers to the back, plinth bases, castors. The lock to the secretaire drawer is stamped “Bramah Patent” with a crown over and the locks to the rest of the drawers are stamped “Stansbury Patent”.

Circa 1785

Price: RESERVED

Width: 49.5”, 126 cms / Depth: 27”, 68.5 cms / Height: 37.5”, 95 cms

Attribution: We know this is by Gillows of Lancaster even though there is no stamp on it or signature. What does it have – the timbers are of exceptional quality with only the richest Mahogany used throughout. The secretaire opens to show letter inlaid oval panel hinged compartments which was a speciality of Gillows and it has the secret boxes with the original green material pulls hidden behind these compartments, and the hinged secretaire drawer.

It also has the baize lined slider covering these compartments with a second easel stand as well as sections for ink wells, quill pens etc. with the Gillows pattern thumb pulls on the front corners. The double rising top has brass feet to the easels.

These are all hallmarks of a family of desks made by Gillows in the last quarter of the 18th century and written up in detail by Susan Stuart in her wonderful 2 volume set on Gillows.

There are numerous similar examples illustrated in “Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840”. Stuart states that this model of desk was made for several patrons including William Egerton at Tatton Park, Sir William Stanley of Hooton and his kinsman, Mr Thomas Stanley, Thomas Gibbons of Wolverhampton and the Earl of Shrewsbury. It appears an example may also have been made for Shavington Hall in Shropshire. An example was ordered by Sir Walter Scott and is in Abbotsford.

In common with the Satinwood Library Table made in 1790 by John Savage of Gillows for the London Gillows shop, this example is a completely free-standing “library table to stand in the middle of a room” and all the above have the double depth secretaire drawer with the top sham drawers hinged to fold forward and, as each was a commissioned piece, there are variations according to the clients’ requirements. Some have an easel top, others have a double rising top and others have a fixed top.

Strong and important looking library tables of this pattern with sliding partitions, lettered compartments and secret (or private as Gillows called them) drawers were among the most expensive pieces made by them in the late 18th century.

Literature:

Boynton, L. (1995). Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800. Heydon, UK: The Bloomfield Press. Plate 24.

Stuart, S.E. (2008). Gillows of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840: Cabinetmakers and International Merchants: A Furniture and Business History, Volumes I & II. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: Antique Collector’s Club. Vol. I, Plates 48, 66, 67, 291, 293, 295, 296, 298, and 434. Vol. II Plates GG28, 29 & 30, pp 377, GG31 pp 378, GG42 pp 384, for this model of desk and variations.

Note: “Cook (E), William” is listed in Appendix B – Gillow Apprentices, Workmen and Tradesmen, Vol. II. In our personal copies from the Gillows Archive, pages 100-101, are accounting notes and an illustration of a piece that is strikingly similar to Harvey’s both in aesthetic and relative measurements, which was mad

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