PROBABLY BY GILLOWS

Details

A REGENCY BRASS-INLAID ROSEWOOD WRITING-TABLE
Probably by Gillows
The rounded rectangular dark-green leather-lined top with foliate border, above a moulded frieze, on a foliage-carved baluster legs with foliate-inlaid collars, on scrolled foliage-carved cabriole legs with sunk castors, with construction numbering in pencil
30 in. (76 cm.) high; 43½ in. (110. 5 cm.) wide; 24 in. (61 cm.) deep

Provenance

Almost certainly supplied to Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837) for Longleat, Wiltshire and by descent at Longleat.

Literature

1837 Inventory, possibly p. 44, No. 64 Drawing Room, 'Brass Bound Rosewood Writing Table'.
1852 Inventory, possibly p. 41, No. 64 Drawing Room, 'Brass bound Writing Table Green Leather top and Hassock'.
1896 Inventory (4th Marquess' Heirlooms), possibly, f 47 r No 40 B Bedroom, 'A 3 ft 8 in rosewood writing table inlaid buhl and brass rim on carved buhl standards'.

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

This rosewood writing-table, inlaid with scrolling brass foliage, was probably supplied to Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath, by Gillows of London and Lancaster. Gillows were closely connected to the Wyatt family of architects and it may have been as a result of Sir Jeffry Wyattville's alterations at Longleat that the Marquess bought from Gillows large quantities of bedroom furniture, including wash-stands and dressing-tables. In 1808 and 1809 Gillows supplied furniture for both Longleat and Grosvenor Square totalling £626 5s 8d. Their bill in 1819 amounted to £50 9s 10d and included 'a rosewood table desk with double elevation'. The present table relates to two 'Sofa' table sketches in Gillows' Estimate Sketch Books, each table on carved pillars and 'claws' and with foliage-carved scrolled feet concealing castors. One was made for H. B. Hoghton, Esq. and the other for William Clayton Esq. (Nos. 3250, 27 April 1823 and 4080, Westminster City Archives).

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