Gillows Chest
A gillows chest brings you the disciplined joinery and restrained proportion of Lancaster's premier cabinet-makers.
Gillows Chest
When you search for a gillows chest, you are looking at pieces produced by the renowned Lancaster and London firm whose workshops defined British furniture standards for generations. The items on this page span the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, taking forms such as bowfront chests of drawers, secretaire bookcases, and tallboys.
You are most likely to encounter mahogany and flame mahogany chests of drawers from the Georgian and Regency periods, alongside later nineteenth-century walnut examples. These pieces combine domestic utility with architectural presence, frequently incorporating fitted writing drawers or secretaire desks.
The selection also includes associated storage forms like cellarettes, teapoys, and compactum wardrobes that reflect the firm's broad repertoire. Each piece demonstrates a clear lineage from workshops that supplied the houses of the British gentry.
Materials and construction
Makers utilised dense timbers such as mahogany, satinwood, and burr walnut, selected for deep figure and durability. Secondary woods were chosen with equal care for drawer linings and internal framing.
Construction relies on tight dovetailing and substantial brass hardware, often cast specifically for the firm. Surface finishes enhance the natural grain without masking the timber's inherent depth.
Gillows Chest Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for gillows chest among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Tea was once so valuable that teapoys arrived with tiny built-in scales to weigh out every precious leaf.
Judging the standard
Quality rests in the precision of the drawer construction and the selection of figured veneers across the principal facade. Superior pieces maintain crispness in their mouldings and integrity in their original brass handles and locks.
The distinction between workshop attribution and documented manufacture affects the standing of a piece within the wider range. Finer examples display meticulous internal secondary woods and uncompromised structural proportions.
Gillows of Lancaster·Waring and Gillow·Robert Gillows II
The Gillows Chest Glossary
- Bowfront
- A curved cabinet front that swells outward in the centre, common in late eighteenth-century drawer chests. This form softens the rigidity of standard case furniture.
- Secretaire
- A chest or cabinet featuring a fitted drop-front drawer that serves as a writing surface. These compartments typically conceal small pigeonholes and subsidiary drawers.
- Cellarette
- A low freestanding container designed to hold wine bottles, often lined with lead or divided internally. They appear in sarcophagus or pedestal forms.
- Teapoy
- A small lidded box on a pillar support used to store loose tea leaves, sometimes attributed to the same workshops as larger case furniture. They frequently include interior mixing bowls.
- Wellington chest
- A tall, narrow chest of drawers secured by a locking side flap that fastens over the drawer edges. This proprietary form maximises vertical storage.
Gillows Chest: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I recognise a genuine piece?
Look for stamped signatures, firm markings on the brass locks, or specific ledger entries matching the construction details. The quality of internal drawer mechanics often points directly to the Lancaster workshop.
Examine the secondary woods and structural framing for the distinctive hallmarks of the firm's joiners.
Were these items made in London or Lancaster?
The firm operated prominent workshops in both Lancaster and London, transporting furniture between the two locations. Many pieces reflect regional construction methods influenced by the main northern headquarters.
Client orders were fulfilled across both sites depending on where the commission originated.
How should I care for mahogany surfaces?
Keep the wood away from direct heat sources and sudden changes in humidity to prevent timber movement. Apply microcrystalline wax sparingly to protect the grain without building up a heavy residue.
Dust regularly with a soft dry cloth rather than using silicone-based sprays.
What is the difference between Georgian and Regency examples?
Georgian pieces generally favour architectural proportion, classical carving, and rich mahogany tones. Regency items often introduce brass inlay, lion paw feet, and highly figured flame mahogany veneers.
Both styles maintain rigorous standards of internal construction.