BY GILLOWS, CIRCA 1855

Details

AN EARLY VICTORIAN MAHOGANY PEDESTAL DESK
BY GILLOWS, CIRCA 1855
The gilt-tooled green leather top above a frieze drawer flanked to each side by four graduated drawers, with opposing cupboard doors, enclosing a divided and alphabetised interior, stamped 'GILLOW', the central lock stamped with a crown and inscribed 'NS 2877 / J BRAMAH / 124 PICCADILLY, the locking stiles and the doors to the reverse replaced
30 ½ in. (77.5 cm.) high; 53 ¾ in. (136.5 cm.) wide; 33 ½ in. (85 cm.) wide

Special notice

Specified lots (sold and unsold) marked with a filled square not collected from Christie’s by 5.00 pm on the day of the sale will, at our option, be removed to Cadogan Tate. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Cadogan Tate Ltd. All collections will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Lot Essay

Gillows' design for this handsome desk was one of many published in the firm's sketchbooks under the heading Ferguson & Co, William Ferguson being one of the trio of former employees who purchased the business when the Gillow family relinquished control in 1813, the new partnership being known variously as Gillow & Co., Ferguson, Whiteside & Redman, or Ferguson, Redmayne & Co.
Ferguson and Henry Whiteside were responsible for the running of Gillow's London business based at various Oxford Street addresses until their deaths in 1835 and 1832 respectively.
A closely related desk is illustrated in S. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, 2008, vol. II, p. 379, pl. GC32, while others were sold anonymously Christie's, London, 29 April 2010, lot 170 (£11,875 including premium), and 23 May 2012, lot 317 (£8,750 including premium).

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