What is a Georgian writing chest of drawers?

A Georgian writing chest of drawers is a dual-purpose late 18th-century storage cabinet featuring traditional stacked drawers along with a pull-out top drawer equipped with a writing surface or adjustable slope.

What materials were traditionally used to construct 18th-century writing chests?

These pieces were typically crafted using solid mahogany or walnut, featuring secondary timbers such as oak or pine for drawer linings, complemented by gilt-tooled leather inserts and cast brass hardware.

How do you identify authentic 18th-century mahogany furniture?

Authentic pieces exhibit hand-cut dovetail joints, oak secondary drawer linings, natural oxidation on unvarnished underside timber, and period-correct brass handles with original fitting marks.

How do you style a mahogany writing chest in a modern interior?

Position the piece as a focal focal point in a home office or bedroom, pairing the rich wood tones with neutral wall colours, understated contemporary art, and modern lighting.

How should an antique mahogany writing chest be cared for?

Dust regularly with a dry microfibre cloth, apply beeswax polish along the grain once or twice a year, and keep the leather writing surface conditioned using dedicated leather balm away from direct heat sources.

for sale €7,020 $7,620

£6,000

Royal House Antiques

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Royal house antiques is a privately-owned family ran company founded in wimbledon in 2012 by husband and wife james and iris thorpe

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Robert Gillows II 1790 Writing Library Mahogany Chest of Drawers Leather Slope

18th century

For Sale by Royal House Antiques

Description

Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exceedingly rare circa 1790 Georgian writing Library chest of drawers with desk secrataire by Gillows of Lancaster and London.

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.

A rare find, looking through Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840 I've found a selection of similar examples, the drawer linings and dovetail joints are correct, as detailed in Volume I page 279 you can see the exact same fold drop mechanism for the drawer front, on page 282 you can see the exact same leather writing slope, the lock is correct, stamped PATENT under the Crown for King George III, these locks were used by Gillows between 1784-97 as detailed again on Chapter 7 page 337 Volume II.

The timber is correct for the period, Cuban or Havana Mahogany, a very detailed extract reads as follows. Adam Bowett has pointed out that Cuban Mahogany was first bought into England after the capture of Havana in 1762 and during the subsequent British occupation.

The desk has been sympathetically restored to include being lightly waxed and polished, the leather inserts are new, the original had totally perished, otherwise it is in stunning condition for a 220+ year old chest of drawers.

Dimensions

Height:- 98cm

Width:- 125cm

Depth:- 64cm

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.

Any questions please feel free to ask.

Physical Dimensions

Height

98cm (38.58")

Width

125cm (49.21")

Depth

64cm (25.20")

Declaration

Royal House Antiques has dated this Georgian Mahogany Writing Chest to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA818410

Description

Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exceedingly rare circa 1790 Georgian writing Library chest of drawers with desk secrataire by Gillows of Lancaster and London.

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.

fig 1. An eighteenth-century mahogany chest of drawers featuring four graduated drawers, with the top drawer open to reveal an adjustable gilt-tooled leather writing slope. — fig 1. Robert Gillows II 1790 Writing Library Mahogany Chest of Drawers Leather Slope

A rare find, looking through Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840 I've found a selection of similar examples, the drawer linings and dovetail joints are correct, as detailed in Volume I page 279 you can see the exact same fold drop mechanism for the drawer front, on page 282 you can see the exact same leather writing slope, the lock is correct, stamped PATENT under the Crown for King George III, these locks were used by Gillows between 1784-97 as detailed again on Chapter 7 page 337 Volume II.

“

The timber is correct for the period, Cuban or Havana Mahogany, a very detailed extract reads as follows.

Royal House Antiques

Adam Bowett has pointed out that Cuban Mahogany was first bought into England after the capture of Havana in 1762 and during the subsequent British occupation.

fig 2. An eighteenth-century mahogany chest of drawers featuring four graduated drawers, with the top drawer open to reveal an adjustable gilt-tooled leather writing slope. — fig 2. Robert Gillows II 1790 Writing Library Mahogany Chest of Drawers Leather Slope

The desk has been sympathetically restored to include being lightly waxed and polished, the leather inserts are new, the original had totally perished, otherwise it is in stunning condition for a 220+ year old chest of drawers.

fig 3. An eighteenth-century mahogany chest of drawers featuring four graduated drawers, with the top drawer open to reveal an adjustable gilt-tooled leather writing slope. — fig 3. Robert Gillows II 1790 Writing Library Mahogany Chest of Drawers Leather Slope

Dimensions

Height:- 98cm

Width:- 125cm

Depth:- 64cm

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)

fig 4. An eighteenth-century mahogany chest of drawers featuring four graduated drawers, with the top drawer open to reveal an adjustable gilt-tooled leather writing slope. — fig 4. Robert Gillows II 1790 Writing Library Mahogany Chest of Drawers Leather Slope

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.

fig 5. An eighteenth-century mahogany chest of drawers featuring four graduated drawers, with the top drawer open to reveal an adjustable gilt-tooled leather writing slope. — fig 5. Robert Gillows II 1790 Writing Library Mahogany Chest of Drawers Leather Slope

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.

Any questions please feel free to ask.