Lot Essay
The 2nd Marquess of Sligo (1788-1845) employed the architect Benjamin Dean Wyatt (1775-1855) to build a new large library at Westport House, Co. Mayo, Ireland. His father had employed James Wyatt to complete the interior of Westport in 1781. The Wyatt family were closely associated with the Gillow family. Sligo's father was a known client of Gillows, sketches for furniture commissions appearing in the Estimate Sketch Books.
These Grecian-scrolled and tablet-enriched parlour chairs, with palms carved on the crest-rails and inlaid in the French manner in the splats, are likely to have been supplied by Gillows, together with the pair of rosewood card-tables that remain at the house (see J. Altmont, 'Westport House', Antique Collector, April 1990, p.83, fig. 6). They relate to furniture supplied for the drawing room at Tatton Park, Cheshire, attributed to Gillows (see National Trust Guide, Tatton Park, London, 1982, pp. 10 and 11).
The channelled decoration is also characteristic of the work of Gillows as seen in the slightly later chairs sold by the Lord Brownlow, Belton House, Lincolnshire, Christie's house sale, 30 April-2 May 1984, lot 55 and again by Christopher Cowlin, Esq., Lyegrove, Badminton, Avon, Christie's house sale, 26 September 1988, lot 113.
These Grecian-scrolled and tablet-enriched parlour chairs, with palms carved on the crest-rails and inlaid in the French manner in the splats, are likely to have been supplied by Gillows, together with the pair of rosewood card-tables that remain at the house (see J. Altmont, 'Westport House', Antique Collector, April 1990, p.83, fig. 6). They relate to furniture supplied for the drawing room at Tatton Park, Cheshire, attributed to Gillows (see National Trust Guide, Tatton Park, London, 1982, pp. 10 and 11).
The channelled decoration is also characteristic of the work of Gillows as seen in the slightly later chairs sold by the Lord Brownlow, Belton House, Lincolnshire, Christie's house sale, 30 April-2 May 1984, lot 55 and again by Christopher Cowlin, Esq., Lyegrove, Badminton, Avon, Christie's house sale, 26 September 1988, lot 113.