A fine quality mid 19th century (circa 1840) Goncalo alves freestanding bureau plat or writing table in the French style of generous proportions, attributed to Gillows of Lancaster.This bureau plat consists of a dark blue tooled leather top with goncalo alves banding with a chamfered edge.This leads down to three oak lined drawers veneered and cross banded with superbly figured goncalo alves with original gilt metal Rococo style handles and escutcheons with a shaped apron below, the table having three dummy drawers to the back identical to those at the front.The sides also veneered and cross banded with superbly figured goncalo alves with original gilt metal Rococo style mount to the centre with a shaped apron below.The bureau plat is supported on four solid gonalo alves cabriole legs, each with original gilt metal Rococo style mounts to the top with a smaller one to the foot.To the underside of the top a date of ''1840'' is written in pencil and also a name that unfortunately we are unable to decipher. Although having no makers mark, we feel this is possibly a piece made by Gillows due to the fine cabinet work, superb choice of wood and the fact that Gillows were a company known to have used Goncalo alves wood (a wood from Brazil & Portugal, also known Albuera wood or Zebrawood) from 1823 until the mid 1860''s - in 1833 Goncalo alves was 40% more expensive than mahogany but less expensive than rosewood, also Gillows started to use French designs in their furniture in the early-mid 19th century.Gillows of Lancaster and London, set up in around 1730, was an English furniture making company based in Lancaster and also London, it continued under this name until 1903 when it became Waring & Gillow after merging with Warings of Liverpool - Gillows of Lancaster and Waring & Gillow both had a very good reputation and are renowned for producing fine quality pieces of furniture.This bureau plat is in very good condition for age, is of stable c...