ATTRIBUTED TO GILLOWS, CIRCA 1780

The shield-back armchairs correspond to a pattern in the 1786 Estimate Sketch Books of the firm of Gillows of Lancaster and London, established in 1769. The design, dated 25.10.86, was commissioned for Mr. Robert Peel, Esq. and the carving attributed to H. Gibson. Unlike other firms of the period, Gillows never published a book of furniture pattern designs under their name, however by the third quarter of the 18th century the firm was one of the principal cabinetmaking firms in London. A set of four chairs of the same design was sold in these Rooms, 22 April 1999, lot 76, one of which was inscribed in pencil R Gillow which presumbably refers to either Richard Gillow (d. 1811) or Robert II (d. 1795), sons of the company founder, Robert Gillow (d.1772) and further strengthens the attribution to this firm.