It would be difficult to find an antique furniture enthusiast or collector unfamiliar with the name Gillows of Lancaster and London. The British furniture company — which has earned references in the writings of Jane Austen and elsewhere in literature — is renowned for its exceptional quality craftsmanship, and attracted designers such as Thomas Chippendale, Thomas Sheraton and George Hepplewhite in its heyday.
The firm was founded circa 1730 by Robert Gillow (1704–72), who worked as a joiner, housebuilder and overseas merchant before making furniture for homes and export. Gillow established his business in his home city of Lancaster. However, the company later expanded into London in the 1750s after Robert entered into a partnership with his son, Richard, who apprenticed with a London architect and learned the merchant trade in Barbados. Richard had entrepreneurial aptitude — he managed apprenticeships at the firm, ensured that quality materials were a priority, navigated economic hardships, and designed furniture, too. He created seating based on sketches drawn by his cousin, James Gillow, in London.
London’s wealthy upper class took notice of the Gillows’ high-quality furniture, which came to include bedroom furniture, cabinets, a range of seating and other pieces made of rosewood or rich mahogany imported from the West Indies and Jamaica. By the end of the 18th century, the manufacturer was one of the leading furniture makers in Britain. Gillows designed its own furnishings and worked with significant designers; they had in-house upholsterers and cabinetmakers and employed decorative techniques such as “japanning” in their designs.
Gillows of Lancaster and London became Gillow & Co. in 1813 after selling to Redmayne, Whiteside and Ferguson. The company continued to thrive throughout the Georgian era and into the Victorian period, a time that yielded well-known collaborations with Scottish architect and designer Bruce Talbert on a regular basis. High-brow clients of the manufacturer clamored for their inventive and functional designs for tables and writing desks, many of which incorporated whimsical elements such as secret and pop-up drawers. There was also demand for earlier Gillow designs such as Baroque and Gothic Revival pieces as well as adaptations of Chippendale works.
Despite their success, Gillow & Co. entered into financial hardship during the late 1800s with the advent of mass-produced furniture. By 1903, they merged with Waring of Liverpool to become Waring and Gillows and, in 1980, were taken over by Maple & Co. to become Maple, Waring and Gillow. Today, many Gillows of Lancaster and London pieces are in museums throughout the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.
Find antique Gillows of Lancaster and London furniture on 1stDibs.
Mid-19th Century English Regency Octagonal Maple Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
English Regency style (mid-19th Century) octagonal maple pedestal base center table with two drawers and resting on a pedestal base with 4 legs. (stamped: BLAIN & SON/ LIVERPOOL)
Maple
19th Century William IV Period Mahogany Centre Table Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
A William IV Period Mahogany Centre Table Attributed to Gillows Constructed from a flamed Honduras Mahogany, book-matched with great effect on the top; the table supported on an inc...
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century Amboyna Octagonal Centre Table
By Johnstone, Jeanes & Co.
Located in London, GB
A good centre table by Johnstone & Jeanes of London Constructed in amboyna, with extensive marquetry inlays in specimen woods, and enhanced with parcel-gilt highlights. Rising from a cruciform platform base adorned with knops and having concealed castors, supporting the inlaid, and gently stepped and tapering centre column with stylized 'c' form brackets bracing the octagonal top, the outer guard band having English roses inlaid at the angles, with foliates with the national emblems of Scotland and Ireland, thistles and shamrocks. Stamped by the makers to the underside, 'Johnstone & Jeanes 67 Bond Street'. circa 1845 Published in “British Furniture 1820 to 1920” by Christopher Payne, 2023, p. 131, illustrated fig. 3.21. Johnstone, Jeanes & Co John Johnstone of Bond Street came to prominence after his collaboration with Robert Jupe, an 'upholder' of 47 Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, London, who patented a remarkable design for a circular expanding dining table with a segmented top in 1835. After Jupe's death, the firm traded as 'Johnstone and Jeanes' from 1842 until 1880, having moved to 67 Bond Street and continuing the tradition of producing high quality furniture. After 1880, the company was re-named Johnstone & Norman. They exhibited at the Great Exhibition 1851, The International Exhibition of London in 1862, and The Paris Exhibition of 1878. Both the Royal Collection Trust and the Victoria & Albert Museum own stamped pieces of furniture in their collections. The company of Crace were designers and decorators to the Royal household from 1768 until 1899, working for every monarch from George the Third...
Amboyna, Wood
$30,273
H 30 in W 54 in D 42.5 in
19th Century Shaped Centre Table with Inlay and Gilt Metal by Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
An Antique Shaped Centre Table by Gillows Constructed in Circassian walnut, with specimen woods inlays, and gilt metal adornments; rising from a castor sho...
Metal
$17,201
H 29.14 in W 41.34 in D 41.34 in
Collinson & Lock attributed. An Aesthetic Movement walnut octagonal center table
By Collinson & Lock
Located in London, GB
Collinson & Lock attributed. An Aesthetic Movement walnut six leg octagonal two tier center table with fine turned legs and out swept feet. The construction has radiating stretchers ...
Walnut
$2,500Sale Price|20% Off
H 27.37 in W 18.9 in D 22.25 in
Antique Octagonal Wine Table, English, Flame, Lamp, Side, William IV, Circa 1835
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique octagonal wine table. An English, flame mahogany lamp or side table, dating to the William IV period, circa 1835. Beautifully figured piece, with similarly appea...
Wood
Victorian Centre Dining Table Mahogany Octagonal 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Large Victorian mahogany octagonal centre / dining table Circa 1880 This rather unusual table stands upon shaped legs with turned supports joined together by a cross section We ship ...
Mahogany
$11,556
H 29.49 in W 35.79 in D 19.81 in
19th Century Gonzalo Alves Games / Card Table By Gillows Of Lancaster
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Dublin, IE
A mid 19th century Goncalo Alves card table by Gillows of Lancaster, the hinged rectangular top with egg and dart molding, the green baize interior within quarter veneered corners, t...
Wood
Regency Center Table by Morel & Seddon, Walnut & Gilt, Circa 1850
Located in Queens, NY
English Regency (circa 1850s) walnut & gilt trimmed center table with a square top & canted corners supported on a centered pedestal & 4 corner columns on a platform base (attributed...
Gold Leaf
$2,700Sale Price|25% Off
H 28.5 in W 42 in D 35 in
Victorian Sutherland Table, Hand-Crafted Walnut, England, 1870 Design
Located in Montreal, QC
This is a fine example of a Victorian Sutherland table, one of the most intelligent and practical innovations in Victorian furnishing. This table is of gatefold leg design with twin ...
Walnut
