POSSIBLY BY GILLOWS

Details

A REGENCY ORMOLU-MOUNTED AND EBONY-INLAID MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE-BOOKCASE
Possibly by Gillows
Crossbanded on the front in satinwood, the rectangular cornice with rounded rectangular breakfront angles above Egyptian herm pilasters flanking a pair of geometrically-glazed doors enclosing a fitted interior lined in pale-blue silk and with three shelves, the lower section with a fitted secretaire-drawer with seven pigeon-holes, ten cedar-lined satinwood drawers and a green leather-lined writing-surface, above a pair of panelled doors enclosing three sliding trays, flanked on each side by a conforming Egyptian herm pilaster, on paw feet, the locks stamped 'J. BRAMAH' with a crown, one interior small drawer later, the feet probably associated
95½ in. (242.5 cm.) high; 51½ in. (131 cm.) wide; 26½ in. (67.5 cm.) deep

Provenance

Judith, Marchioness of Linlithgow, sold by her Executors, in these Rooms, 9 July 1992, lot 155.

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

Sale room notice

The estimate on this secretaire-bookcase should be £10,000-£15,000 and not as stated in the catalogue.

Lot Essay

While the design of this secretaire-bookcase relates to that illustrated in Thomas Sheraton's Drawing Book, 1793, pl.28, its glazing-bar pattern, invented by W. Casement, was published in The Cabinet-Maker's London Book of Prices, 2nd ed., 1793, pl.27, no.6. (E. White, A Dictionary of British 18th Century Furniture Designs, London, 1990, p. 248). The Egyptian headed pilasters with lion-paw feet reflect the 'antique' influence of Thomas Hope, also featured in a Sheraton pattern and illustrated in his Cabinet Dictionary, 1803, pl. 50. Its ebony-inlaid French 'hollow' corners were a popular feature of Gillow furniture around 1812, (J. Hardy and N. Goodison, 'Gillows at Tatton Park', Furniture History, 1970, fig. 19B). This, combined with the exceptional quality of its reversed-pattern mahogany veneer tentatively suggests an attribution to the firm of Gillow of London and Lancaster.

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