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Lot Essay
This highly functional pedestal-desk was a popular type of furniture manufactured by Gillows of London and Lancaster. Its writing-drawer features lidded compartments with inlaid alphabet-inscribed medallions, and is designed after a fashion popularised by Thomas Shearer's, The Cabinet Maker's London Book of Prices, of which three editions were published between 1788 and 1803. A pattern for a very similar desk with a rising ratchet-supported top and 'turn down' front features in the firm's 1798 Estimate Sketch Book (no. 1481) preserved in the Westminster City Archives.
Sir Walter Scott (d. 1832) purchased a similar desk from Messrs Gillows of London and Lancaster for his Edinburgh house in Castle Street in 1810. In May of that year, following the success of his poem, The Lady of the Lake, and a visit to J. B. S. Morritt of Rokeby Hall, Yorkshire, Scott wrote to his host saying 'You know I fell in love with your Library table and now that The Lady has put crowns into my purse I would willingly treat myself unto the like...' Robert Gillow consequently supplied his desk and on the 9th August Scott wrote again to Morritt saying 'I must not omit to tell you that Gillows table has arrived and gives great satisfaction. Every one that sees it likes it so much I dare say I shall have some commissions to send him. His bill did not much exceed yours being about £30 ready money'. The Gillows archives for July 7th 1810 records- 'Pack for W. Scott Esq., Castle Street, Edinburgh, case containing mahogany beauroe writing table Double Elevating tops cupboard in center compleat writing drawers' (see: C. Wainwright, The Romantic Interior, London, 1989, fig. 162).
A similar pedestal desk was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 14 September 2000, lot 202 and a further similar desk, stamped by Gillows of Lancaster was offered anonymously, Christie's Scotland, 12 May 1993, lot 378.
Sir Walter Scott (d. 1832) purchased a similar desk from Messrs Gillows of London and Lancaster for his Edinburgh house in Castle Street in 1810. In May of that year, following the success of his poem, The Lady of the Lake, and a visit to J. B. S. Morritt of Rokeby Hall, Yorkshire, Scott wrote to his host saying 'You know I fell in love with your Library table and now that The Lady has put crowns into my purse I would willingly treat myself unto the like...' Robert Gillow consequently supplied his desk and on the 9th August Scott wrote again to Morritt saying 'I must not omit to tell you that Gillows table has arrived and gives great satisfaction. Every one that sees it likes it so much I dare say I shall have some commissions to send him. His bill did not much exceed yours being about £30 ready money'. The Gillows archives for July 7th 1810 records- 'Pack for W. Scott Esq., Castle Street, Edinburgh, case containing mahogany beauroe writing table Double Elevating tops cupboard in center compleat writing drawers' (see: C. Wainwright, The Romantic Interior, London, 1989, fig. 162).
A similar pedestal desk was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 14 September 2000, lot 202 and a further similar desk, stamped by Gillows of Lancaster was offered anonymously, Christie's Scotland, 12 May 1993, lot 378.