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Gillows: A Sheraton Period Rosewood Sofa Table

england , circa 1800

Attributed to Gillows.

A superb Sheraton period rosewood sofa table. The top with twin drop leaves with rounded corners, partridge-wood banding and ebony lines, two narrow satinwood bandings and outer rosewood crossbanded borders. The frieze with two oak-lined drawers each side with satinwood cross-banded borders flanked by partridge-wood panels similarly cross-banded. Standing on standard end supports with double swept legs terminating in brass box castors, the supports united by an arched stretcher, all with inset boxwood lines and box and ebony stringing. With fire-gilt brass knob handles.

Of the finest quality.

Provenance

With Charles Lumb, 1989
Private Collection, England
 

Stock number

AD.177
Height: 28³/₈ in (72 cm)
Width: 60⁵/₈ in (154 cm)
Depth: 29⁷/₈ in (76 cm)
A pair of near identical rosewood sofa tables were supplied by Gillows of Oxford Street to Stephen Tempest of Broughton Hall in 1803. They were invoiced as '....2 large rosewood sofa tables with drawers in do. and on claw & castors 14 gns. 29-8-0d'.

It was at the beginning of the 19th century that Gillows introduced a new design of table, specifically to be placed behind a sofa. In 1801 they advised their client Lady Gardiner of Clerk Hill 'the most fashionable form now used are what we call sofa tables' and enclosed a sketch which showed how 'the 2 leaves fall down like a Pembroke table'. In July 1801 Gillows included the first sofa table in their Estimate Sketch Book. Sofa tables could be adapted to suit many needs, as games, tea or writing tables. The fitted knobs were supplied in either ivory, exotic woods or brass.
Susan E. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730 - 1840, pp. 264-265, pl. 268-169
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