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Lot Essay
The exceptionally rare survival of the hand-written label on this dressing-chest makes this dressing-chest a rare early example of Gillows furniture. It may have been either a shipping label or an early form of Trade label for Gillows & Taylor (later superseded by the printed label found on the 'Trou-Madame' games-table referred to below) (L. Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, Royston, 1995, p. 19 and C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, pp. 30 & 223, figs. 396-397).
Robert Gillow II, younger brother of Richard Gillow, opened a London shop in 1769 at 176 Oxford Street, initially for the retail of Lancaster-made Gillows furniture, although in later years, Gillows furniture was made in both London and Lancaster. He entered into a partnership with his cousin, Thomas Gillow and William Taylor (d. 1775). The firm is recorded in London Trade Directories from 1769-1777 as 'Gillows & Taylor'. A 'Trou-Madame' games-table at Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal bears their label.
The commode, fitted with dressing-table drawer, is serpentined in 'Cupid' bow form and inlaid in the French 'picturesque' fashion with 'Venus' roses flowering its corner pilasters. They appear in golden garlands suspended from bowed and ribbon-twisted cords, and their serpentined foliage recalls the patterns for scrolled Roman acanthus, that were engraved by the drawing-master and carver Matthias Lock (d. 1765) and reissued in 1769 as A New Book of Foliage (M. Heckscher, 'Lock and Copland', Furniture History, 1979, pp.1-23, pl. 62A). Roses also flower the back-plates of their reeded and French-fashioned ormolu handles.
Robert Gillow II, younger brother of Richard Gillow, opened a London shop in 1769 at 176 Oxford Street, initially for the retail of Lancaster-made Gillows furniture, although in later years, Gillows furniture was made in both London and Lancaster. He entered into a partnership with his cousin, Thomas Gillow and William Taylor (d. 1775). The firm is recorded in London Trade Directories from 1769-1777 as 'Gillows & Taylor'. A 'Trou-Madame' games-table at Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal bears their label.
The commode, fitted with dressing-table drawer, is serpentined in 'Cupid' bow form and inlaid in the French 'picturesque' fashion with 'Venus' roses flowering its corner pilasters. They appear in golden garlands suspended from bowed and ribbon-twisted cords, and their serpentined foliage recalls the patterns for scrolled Roman acanthus, that were engraved by the drawing-master and carver Matthias Lock (d. 1765) and reissued in 1769 as A New Book of Foliage (M. Heckscher, 'Lock and Copland', Furniture History, 1979, pp.1-23, pl. 62A). Roses also flower the back-plates of their reeded and French-fashioned ormolu handles.