BY GILLOWS OF LANCASTER, THE CRAFTSMEN T. MOON AND W. FOSTER, 1849

Details

An early Victorian satinbirch wardrobe
By Gillows of Lancaster, the craftsmen T. Moon and W. Foster, 1849
The rectangular moulded and cavetto cornice above four panelled doors, enclosing later brass rails, the central section enclosing four adjustable slides above four short drawers, on a moulded plinth base, stamped twice 'Gillows Lancaster', the underside of one drawer inscribed in pencil 'T. Moon & W. Foster Decr - 1849'
105in. (267cm.) wide, 83in. (211cm.) high, 30in. (76cm.) deep

Provenance

Supplied to Thomas Salt, probably for Baildon Hall, Yorkshire.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The golden wardrobe relies for effect on its beautiful silken birch in panelled pilasters and doors. Its restrained architecture reflects the early 19th Century French antique architecture that remained as the 'Modern' style when illustrated in the various editions of The Modern Style of Cabinet Work Exemplified, (1829-62), in which Thomas King claimed in 1835 that 'As far as possible the English style is carefully blended with Parisian taste'. It was commissioned in 1849 by Thomas Salt, possibly for Baildon Hall, Yorkshire, and was designed by Messrs. Gillow of London, whose 'elegant productions' later received praise in the Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue of the 1851 International Exhibition. The wardrobe is inscribed with the date December 1849, and bears the signature of the craftsmen Messrs. Thomas Moon and William Foster. A drawing of the wardrobe accompanies its manufacturing costs, which are listed in Gillow's 1849 Estimate Sketch Book (no. 5677). The total cost was listed as £31.2.4., with a margin note 'add £2.19.5.'.

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