Gillows Writing Cabinet
A gillows writing cabinet is a piece of fine furniture built for correspondence, combining practical storage with superior cabinet-making.
Gillows Writing Cabinet
A gillows writing cabinet encompasses a variety of forms including compact Davenport desks, dwarf secretaire cabinets, and taller secretaire bookcases designed for domestic correspondence and estate management. These pieces frequently emerge from the Regency and Georgian periods, showcasing the proportion and utility characteristic of the firm's output from Lancaster and London.
The version most commonly met on this page is the Davenport desk, alongside secretaire cabinets and larger bookcases fitted with fitted writing drawers and leather-lined slopes. These items serve as functional workstations while maintaining the formal presence of high-end domestic furniture.
Makers and workshops associated with these designs range from Robert Gillows II to the later incarnations such as Waring and Gillow, spanning centuries of production from the eighteenth century into the twentieth. The materials utilised lean towards dense hardwoods and figured veneers, establishing a clear line of stylistic evolution.
Markers of quality
Quality rests in the selection of timber, particularly the match and figure of flame mahogany or burr walnut veneers across multiple drawer fronts and writing surfaces. Superior examples demonstrate tight joints, precise internal drawer construction, and original brass fittings.
The refinement of the interior mechanism, such as hidden spring-loaded compartments and smooth-action writing slides, distinguishes high-tier commissions from standard production pieces. Attributed or stamped items carry distinct marks of workshop provenance that elevate their standing.
Many writing cabinets conceal secret spring-loaded compartments designed to keep love letters and private ledgers safe from prying eyes.
Gillows of Lancaster·Gillow and Co·Robert Gillows II·Waring and Gillow
The Gillows Writing Cabinet Glossary
- Davenport
- A small desk featuring a sloped writing surface above a pedestal of drawers, often incorporating a side-hinged pen box. This form became a staple product for private studies and boudoirs during the Regency era.
- Secretaire
- A cabinet or bookcase containing a pull-out drawer or drop-front panel that conceals a fitted writing interior with small drawers and pigeonholes. It allows a piece of case furniture to double as a desk.
- Flame mahogany
- A veneer cut from the fork of the mahogany tree to produce a rippling, flame-like pattern across large surfaces. Cabinet-makers used this timber to create dramatic visual movement on drawer fronts.
- Astragal glazed
- A glass door divided into smaller panes by thin wooden strips called glazing bars. This treatment is typical of upper library and bookcase sections from the Georgian period.
Gillows Writing Cabinet: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify an authentic piece?
Authentic pieces often display maker stamps, distinctive construction methods in the secondary timbers, and high-grade brass hardware consistent with workshop practices.
Examination of the internal drawer dovetails and the figure of the mahogany or walnut veneer provides further confirmation of origin.
Were these pieces used for standing work?
Most Davenport desks and writing cabinets were designed for seated use, matching the lower chair heights of the Regency and Victorian periods.
Some dwarf cabinets and library pieces offered adjusted heights for convenience, but the primary writing slopes required a chair.
What is the difference between a Davenport and a secretaire bookcase?
A Davenport is a compact pedestal desk with a top writing slope, whereas a secretaire bookcase is a tall piece combining a shelved upper library cabinet with a drop-front desk section.
Both serve writing functions but occupy very different footprints within a room.
How should I care for the leather writing surface?
Leather slopes require gentle cleaning with a damp cloth and occasional treatment with appropriate leather dressings to prevent cracking.
Avoiding direct sunlight protects both the leather and the surrounding mahogany or walnut veneer from fading.