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.
A George IV rosewood and scagliola occasional table attributed to Gillows c.1825
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
The rectangular top of this table tilts up to display a scagliola landscape scene showing the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Temples of Vespasian and Saturn, the Column of Phocas and ...
Scagliola, Rosewood
Early Victorian Goncalo Alves Card Table Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An early Victorian Goncalo Alves card table attributed to Gillows, the hinged rectangular top with bead and reel edging, the green baize (replaced) interior within quarter veneered corners, the turned, knopped end supports gadrooned and set upon two feet with lion’s paw feet and disguised castors. English, circa 1850. For a pair of very similar Goncalo Alves card tables belonging to Miss K...
Wood
A fine George IV period tray top occasional table by Gillows, c.1825
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A fine George IV period tray top occasional table by Gillows, c.1825 The table with a wavy, rectangular tray top is supported on two turned and carved end supports with a turned str...
Mahogany
An Interesting Pair of William IV Card Tables, Attributed to Gillows c.1835
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An Interesting Pair of William IV Card Tables, Attributed to Gillows c.1835 The tables with d-shaped rounded rectangular tops with beaded mouldings running around both parts of the ...
Rosewood
An outstanding and important Regency writing table by William Jamar
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
This outstanding and important writing table has a rectangular top above two cedar-lined frieze drawers. It is raised on rectangular section flared end supports with parcel gilt and ebonised scroll spandrels and feet joined by a flat brass inlaid stretcher. The decoration comprises superb quality amboyna, ebony and calamander veneers. The top has a central amboyna field within a Boulle work border of inlaid ormolu foliate sprays, while the sides have further amboyna panels within ormolu stringing and calamander crossbanding. With a copy of the invoice stating it was from the Wellington Collection and probably sold by the 8th Duke. English, circa 1815. Height: 29¼ in (74.5cm) Width: 50¼ in (127.5cm) Depth: 26in (66 cm) Provenance: Lord Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington, possibly 11 Titchfield St, London Temple Williams Ltd 1963 (See the Country Life advertisement below) Philip Duncan Ltd, sold in 1969 A distinguished American private collection Published: M. Jourdain and R. Fastnedge Regency Furniture 1795-1830, London, 1965 p.77 fig. 179 Country Life “Summer Calendar” 1963, p.51 Lord Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of Wellington (1885-1972) was an Anglo-Irish diplomat (1908-1919) who served as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards during World War II and then became an architect. His collection at 11 Titchfield Terrace was one of the first major regency furniture collections in Britain. In 1947, he gave Apsley House and its important contents (the Wellington Collection) to the nation with the proviso that he and his family were able to occupy a large portion of it. He married Dorothy Violet Ashton in 1914, daughter of Robert Ashton of Croughton. See Wick Antiques...
Brass
A large George IV brass inlaid Gonçalo alves centre table attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
The circular tilt top has a central field of book-matched, figured Gonçalo alves within a broad band of cut brass inlay. The edge is boldly carved with an acanthus and dart border. The central support is hexagonal in section with a broad central flange, raised on three powerful and ornately carved legs. The knees are presented as bold acanthus carved and gadrooned volutes. The lions’ paw feet have clearly defined knuckles and claws and enclose the original brass castors. English, circa 1825. See also S. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, Antique Collectors’ Club, Woodbridge, 2008, Vol II, pl. E.5, which shows a pattern for this table in a drawing room layout designed for G.Bamford about 1820-30. The drawing also shows a pair of bergères and a sofa which correspond to a suite supplied by Gillow & Co. in 1824 to Thomas Wynn...
Brass
George IV Period Games Table Attributed to Gillows of Lancaster
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Constructed in a finely figured goncalo alves; the end supports having square uprights, each enclosing three tapering and turned ‘triple spindles’, with ‘running pearl’ adornments, a...
Wood
Game Table with Backgammon and Chess Board, France 19th century
Located in Belmont, MA
Discover an exceptional Victorian Game Table, originating from the 1860s. This rectangular table stands on four beautifully twisted legs, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The top ...
Kingwood
Specimen Games Table Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in New Orleans, LA
This magnificent games table incorporates some of the rarest English marbles, hardstones and fossil specimens, including Derbyshire Blue John. The scarcity of these coveted stones makes an inlaid circular piece of this size a truly exceptional and unique masterpiece. The tabletop, with its fabulous specimens surrounding an Ashford marble chessboard...
Stone
18th Century French Carved Oak Game Table with Marble and Onyx Chess Top
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a den, library, or game room with this exceptional antique game table from southern France, crafted circa 1780. Raised on robust barley twist legs, the table is enriched at ...
Onyx, Marble
French Walnut Backgammon Game Table with Orig. Bakelite and Dice Pieces, C. 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
French Walnut inlaid backgammon game table with a serpentine molded edge removable top, original Bakelite playing pieces, dice, serpentine molded edge skirt, and resting on the origi...
Bakelite, Ebony, Fruitwood, Walnut
French Louis XV Period Tric Trac or Backgammon Table Stamped P. Roussel
By Pierre Roussel (1723-1782)
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Louis XV period (18th century) "Tric Trac" or Backgammon table stamped by the maker, "P. Roussel," and the guild "JME" (Jurande des Menuisiers et Ebenistes --translated as the...
Ormolu, Bronze
