Lot Essay
A sketch for this type of table appears in Gillows' Estimate Sketch Book, dated 1810, and called by them a 'chamber writing-table' (No. 344/144, p. 11, Westminster City Archives). A similar table bearing the stamp GILLOWS.LANCASTER is illustrated in S.E. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, 2008, vol. I, p. 300, pl. 328. Gillows supplied four tables of this pattern in 1811 to T.W. Egerton for Tatton Park, Cheshire (N. Goodison and J. Hardy, 'Gillows at Tatton Park, Cheshire', Furniture History, 1970, pp. 28, 30, 32 and 35, pl. 16B). A further related example inscribed with the craftsman John Herbert's name (the maker of the Wellington chest in the sale), was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 14 September 2006, lot 374.