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Lot Essay
This pair of bergeres may have been supplied to Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, circa 1825, by Gillows. Lord Londonderry is recorded as a client of Gillows' in the Estimate Sketch Books between 1822 and 1825 (Susan Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840, Vol. II, 2008, p. 186). This pair of bergeres, with their robustly carved arms wrapped in foliage and distinct reeded tapering legs are strongly characteristic of Gillows of London and Lancaster. In particular, they relate to a bergere attributed to Gillows, sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 12 November 1998, lot 429. A pair of very closely related bergeres with the same side scrolls was supplied to William, 2nd Baron Bolton (1782-1850) for the Library at Hackwood Park, Hampshire, and sold by the late 2nd Viscount Camrose, Hackwood Park, Christie's house sale, 20-22 April, 1998, lot 55 (£84,000 including premium). An almost identical pair of bergeres supplied to Morton Davison, Esq., for Beamish Park, Co. Durham, by Gillows, was sold by Mrs. R.D. Shafto, Christie's London, 21 September 1995, lot 168.
The stamp 'HH' may relate to the Gillows journeyman Henry Holmes, who is recorded in the Lancaster Estimate Sketch Books from around 1805 and is noted as working until 1834 (Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p. 445). The stamp HH appears on sofas supplied to Thomas Wynn, 2nd Baron Newborough for Glynllifon, Caernarvonshire, by Gillows and invoiced in December 1823 (sold by Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Christie's London, 9 March 2000, lot 102). The stamp also appeared on 'The Whistlejacket Suite' of giltwood seat-furniture, sold from Wentworth Woodhouse, Christie's London, 8 July 1998, lot 80. Susan Stuart has suggested that the stamp may relate to a London journeyman as no giltwood furniture appears to have been made in the Lancaster workshops (see S. E. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, Woodbridge, 2008, p. 244).
The stamp 'HH' may relate to the Gillows journeyman Henry Holmes, who is recorded in the Lancaster Estimate Sketch Books from around 1805 and is noted as working until 1834 (Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p. 445). The stamp HH appears on sofas supplied to Thomas Wynn, 2nd Baron Newborough for Glynllifon, Caernarvonshire, by Gillows and invoiced in December 1823 (sold by Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Christie's London, 9 March 2000, lot 102). The stamp also appeared on 'The Whistlejacket Suite' of giltwood seat-furniture, sold from Wentworth Woodhouse, Christie's London, 8 July 1998, lot 80. Susan Stuart has suggested that the stamp may relate to a London journeyman as no giltwood furniture appears to have been made in the Lancaster workshops (see S. E. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, Woodbridge, 2008, p. 244).