
Thomas Moore
Head of Department
This auction has ended. View lot details
Sold for £2,295 inc. premium
Our Home and Interiors specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialist
Head of Department
Several designs for related library and writing tables feature in the Gillow Estimate Sketch Books throughout the 1820s. A virtually identical example to the offered lot is illustrated in S.E. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840, Vol. I, 2008, Woodbridge, pl. 311, p. 292. This closely comparable version which is stamped: 'GILLOWS.LANCASTER', together with the present model, conform to a Gillow's design dated November 1827 which appears in the Estimate Sketch Books.
A similar 'library' table which is also stamped: 'GILLOWS.LANCASTER', albeit one with two drawers, sold Bonhams, New Bond Street, 26 November 2008, Fine English Furniture and Works of Art, lot 179. Another related rosewood library table also attributed to Gillows, as with the offered lot, sold Sotheby's, London, 7 March 2007, The Estate of Christian, Lady Hesketh, lot 171.
Generally it appears to be the case that the slightly larger tables, which unlike the offered variant seem to incorporate one or two frieze drawers, are referred to as 'library' tables whereas it is evident that the above should perhaps more accurately be referred to as a writing table.