Lot Essay
These shield-back armchairs with leaf-tip-carved frames closely relate to a design from the Estimate Sketch Books of the firm of Gillows of Lancaster and London, established in 1769. The design, dated 25.10.86, was commissioned for Mr. Robert Peel, Esq. and the carving attributed to H. Gibson. The inscription R Gillow to the underside of the chairs presumbably refers to either Richard Gillow (d. 1811) or Robert II (d. 1795), sons of the company founder, Robert Gillow (d.1772). Unlike other firms of the period, Gillows never published a book of furniture pattern designs under their name, however by the third quarter of the 18th century the firm was one of the prinicipal cabinetmaking firms in London.