What is a George III partners desk?

Originating in 18th-century England during the reign of King George III, a partners desk is a double-sided pedestal desk constructed to allow two people to work opposite one another simultaneously.

What materials were traditionally used in late 18th-century English desk construction?

Desks from this period were typically built using solid mahogany or oak framing, hand-cut dovetail drawer joinery, brass cast handles, and tool-embossed leather writing inserts.

How do you identify authentic late 18th-century executive desks?

Authentic Georgian desks display hand-sawn timber secondary wood, period-correct brass lever locks, hand-carved panel mouldings, and natural wear along the plinth base and kneehole edges.

How can a double-sided writing desk be styled in a modern interior?

Position the desk in the centre of a home office or study to display the panelling on all sides, paired with an upholstered desk chair and classic brass task lighting.

How should an antique leather-topped desk be maintained?

Dust the timber surfaces regularly with a microfibre cloth, apply beeswax annually along the grain, and treat the leather insert with clear leather conditioner to prevent drying.

for sale €11,700 $12,700

£10,000

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Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

Name: Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA816986
Price: 10000 GBP
Availability: InStock

18th century

For Sale by Royal House Antiques

Description

Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning and exceptionally rare 1794 George III Gillows Lancaster twin pedestal double sided postmasters’ desk in panelled mahogany.

Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price.

I have never seen another with this particular type of drawer and cupboard formation, to the front you have two full length cupboard doors both with working locks and one middle drawer, open either cupboard door and you find four perfectly fitted drawers, to the rear you have three rather hidden cupboards, the only sign that they have anything inside is the locks, all of which have the original keys. The left and right cupboards have postmasters’ pigeonholes, they cover the full alphabet, the central cupboard has one single drawer and vertical file dividers. The leather top is original with a very ornate embossing around the trim of the like and quality again, I have never seen.

This is an exceptionally rare example of an even rarer model desk made in the later part of the 18th century by one of the finest if not the finest furnisher in English history, Gillow’s of Lancaster and London.

I’ll include a short biography below on Gillows for those who aren’t fine furniture connoisseurs.

This desk has the correct J Bramha 14 Piccadilly stamped locks under the crown, referenced to Gillows Of Lancaster and London 1730-1840 Volume II page 337. The desk is made from golden mahogany which has a wonderful patina throughout, it looks truly exquisite. Each side is fitted with very Regal bronze Lions heads holding rings in their mouths.

In terms of the condition, we have cleaned waxed and polished it, everything works absolutely perfectly, I have most of the original keys with one replacement, the middle drawer doesn’t have a key. The desk has normal patina marks all over from genuine age and honest use.

Dimensions

Height:- 75.5cm

Width:- 115cm

Depth:- 96cm

Leg room

Height:- 62cm

Width:- 40cm

Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask.

Gillows of Lancaster and London, also known as Gillow & Co, was an English furniture making firm based in Lancaster, Lancashire, and in London. It was founded around in Lancaster in about 1730 by Robert Gillow (1704–1772 Gillows was owned by the family until 1814 when it was taken over by Redmayne, Whiteside, and Ferguson; they continued to use the Gillow name.

Gillows furniture was a byword for quality, and other designers used Gillows to manufacture their furniture. Gillows furniture is referred to by Jane Austen, Thackeray and the first Lord Lytton, and in one of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operas.

In 1903 Gillows merged with Warings of Liverpool to become Waring and Gillow and although the furniture remained of a high quality it was not as prestigious.

Gillow family (1728–1814)

In 1728 Robert Gillow began trading in Lancaster as a joiner, builder, house carpenter, furniture maker and overseas merchant. By the summer of 1731 he had entered into a partnership with a fellow catholic, George Haresnape, which had ended by 1735. By 1734 six other names appeared on their staff list. Gillows notably made heavy use of mahogany wood, which is indigenous to the Americas, from the early 1730s. In the early 1740s, Gillow owned a twelfth share of the ship Briget, which he partially used to import mahogany from the West Indies.

The success of the firm was partly due to his ability to directly import mahogany; by 1742 Gillow was exporting finished mahogany furniture back to the West Indies. On 1 January 1757 Robert entered into an equal partnership wi

Physical Dimensions

Height

75.5cm (29.72")

Width

115cm (45.28")

Depth

96cm (37.80")

Declaration

Royal House Antiques has dated this George III Partners Desk to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA816986

Description

Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning and exceptionally rare 1794 George III Gillows Lancaster twin pedestal double sided postmasters’ desk in panelled mahogany.

Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price.

I have never seen another with this particular type of drawer and cupboard formation, to the front you have two full length cupboard doors both with working locks and one middle drawer, open either cupboard door and you find four perfectly fitted drawers, to the rear you have three rather hidden cupboards, the only sign that they have anything inside is the locks, all of which have the original keys.

“

The left and right cupboards have postmasters’ pigeonholes, they cover the full alphabet, the central cupboard has one single drawer and vertical file dividers.

Royal House Antiques

The leather top is original with a very ornate embossing around the trim of the like and quality again, I have never seen.

fig 1. A double-sided Georgian timber desk featuring a dark leather writing insert, panelled pedestal doors, and brass lion mask side handles. — fig 1. Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

This is an exceptionally rare example of an even rarer model desk made in the later part of the 18th century by one of the finest if not the finest furnisher in English history, Gillow’s of Lancaster and London.

fig 2. A double-sided Georgian timber desk featuring a dark leather writing insert, panelled pedestal doors, and brass lion mask side handles. — fig 2. Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

I’ll include a short biography below on Gillows for those who aren’t fine furniture connoisseurs.

This desk has the correct J Bramha 14 Piccadilly stamped locks under the crown, referenced to Gillows Of Lancaster and London 1730-1840 Volume II page 337. The desk is made from golden mahogany which has a wonderful patina throughout, it looks truly exquisite. Each side is fitted with very Regal bronze Lions heads holding rings in their mouths.

fig 3. A double-sided Georgian timber desk featuring a dark leather writing insert, panelled pedestal doors, and brass lion mask side handles. — fig 3. Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

In terms of the condition, we have cleaned waxed and polished it, everything works absolutely perfectly, I have most of the original keys with one replacement, the middle drawer doesn’t have a key. The desk has normal patina marks all over from genuine age and honest use.

fig 4. A double-sided Georgian timber desk featuring a dark leather writing insert, panelled pedestal doors, and brass lion mask side handles. — fig 4. Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

Dimensions

Height:- 75.5cm

Width:- 115cm

Depth:- 96cm

Leg room

Height:- 62cm

Width:- 40cm

Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask.

fig 5. A double-sided Georgian timber desk featuring a dark leather writing insert, panelled pedestal doors, and brass lion mask side handles. — fig 5. Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

Gillows of Lancaster and London, also known as Gillow & Co, was an English furniture making firm based in Lancaster, Lancashire, and in London. It was founded around in Lancaster in about 1730 by Robert Gillow (1704–1772 Gillows was owned by the family until 1814 when it was taken over by Redmayne, Whiteside, and Ferguson; they continued to use the Gillow name.

fig 6. A double-sided Georgian timber desk featuring a dark leather writing insert, panelled pedestal doors, and brass lion mask side handles. — fig 6. Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

Gillows furniture was a byword for quality, and other designers used Gillows to manufacture their furniture. Gillows furniture is referred to by Jane Austen, Thackeray and the first Lord Lytton, and in one of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operas.

fig 7. A double-sided Georgian timber desk featuring a dark leather writing insert, panelled pedestal doors, and brass lion mask side handles. — fig 7. Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

In 1903 Gillows merged with Warings of Liverpool to become Waring and Gillow and although the furniture remained of a high quality it was not as prestigious.

Gillow family (1728–1814)

In 1728 Robert Gillow began trading in Lancaster as a joiner, builder, house carpenter, furniture maker and overseas merchant. By the summer of 1731 he had entered into a partnership with a fellow catholic, George Haresnape, which had ended by 1735. By 1734 six other names appeared on their staff list. Gillows notably made heavy use of mahogany wood, which is indigenous to the Americas, from the early 1730s. In the early 1740s, Gillow owned a twelfth share of the ship Briget, which he partially used to import mahogany from the West Indies.

fig 8. A double-sided Georgian timber desk featuring a dark leather writing insert, panelled pedestal doors, and brass lion mask side handles. — fig 8. Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

The success of the firm was partly due to his ability to directly import mahogany; by 1742 Gillow was exporting finished mahogany furniture back to the West Indies. On 1 January 1757 Robert entered into an equal partnership wi