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GILLOWS: A PAIR OF GEORGE III MAHOGANY ARMCHAIRS
england , circa 1790 - 1800
A magnificent pair of late 18th century George III period carved mahogany armchairs in the manner of Gillows of Lancaster & London. The pierced shield back splat carved at the top with a wheatsheaf motif, the back carved with a paterae and a leaf motif, the moulded arms on scroll supports, on square tapering legs and spade feet.
Provenance
With Mallett of New Bond Street, London
Private Collection, New York
Private Collection, New York
Stock number
U10.117
dimensions
More Details
Literature
Height: 38 in (96.5 cm)
Width: 31¹/₂ in (80 cm)
Depth: 20¹/₈ in (51 cm)
Width: 31¹/₂ in (80 cm)
Depth: 20¹/₈ in (51 cm)
These chairs feature a superbly fluid design and exceptional craftsmanship with excellent carved detail and fine colour throughout. They contain elements from a series of design drawings from Gillows’ Estimate Sketch Books, which suggest that they may be made by that firm.
An identical armchair was sold Sotheby's London, Mallett at Bourdon House, 9 March 2007, lot 565 (£21,600).
A chair from a suite of almost identical design, formerly in the collection of the Harvey family at Ickwell Bury, Bedfordshire is known to have been stamped ‘RE. One possible explanation for the stamp, which provides a link with the Gillows firm, has been suggested by Christopher Claxton Stevens: it may refer to Richard or Robert Edmudsen or Edmonson. Edmonson’s was a Liverpool cabinet-making firm which started in 1781. Richard and Robert are both recorded as freemen of Lancaster and are known to have worked for Gillows on a number of occasions.
One chair from the suite is illustrated in Christopher Claxton Stevens and Stewart Whittington, 18th Century English Furniture, The Norman Adams Collection, Woodbridge 1983, p. 82, and a pair of armchairs from the set was with Apter-Fredericks, London and sold Christie's London, 19 January 2021, lot 47.
An identical armchair was sold Sotheby's London, Mallett at Bourdon House, 9 March 2007, lot 565 (£21,600).
A chair from a suite of almost identical design, formerly in the collection of the Harvey family at Ickwell Bury, Bedfordshire is known to have been stamped ‘RE. One possible explanation for the stamp, which provides a link with the Gillows firm, has been suggested by Christopher Claxton Stevens: it may refer to Richard or Robert Edmudsen or Edmonson. Edmonson’s was a Liverpool cabinet-making firm which started in 1781. Richard and Robert are both recorded as freemen of Lancaster and are known to have worked for Gillows on a number of occasions.
One chair from the suite is illustrated in Christopher Claxton Stevens and Stewart Whittington, 18th Century English Furniture, The Norman Adams Collection, Woodbridge 1983, p. 82, and a pair of armchairs from the set was with Apter-Fredericks, London and sold Christie's London, 19 January 2021, lot 47.
Mallett advertisement, Connoisseur, March 1957
L. Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, ill. pl. 272-275.
C. Claxton Stevens, ‘A Group of Seat Furniture Stamped RE,’ The Journal of the Regional Furniture Society, Vol. XII, 1998, pp. 156-159.
L. Synge, Great English Furniture, 1991, p. 126, fig. 143.
L. Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, ill. pl. 272-275.
C. Claxton Stevens, ‘A Group of Seat Furniture Stamped RE,’ The Journal of the Regional Furniture Society, Vol. XII, 1998, pp. 156-159.
L. Synge, Great English Furniture, 1991, p. 126, fig. 143.
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