IN THE MANNER OF GILLOWS, CIRCA 1840

This model of desk is based on a design dated 1792 published by Thomas Sheraton in his The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing-Book, London, 1793, pl. 58. The design of this desk closely relates to two sketches for 'An Oak pedestal and Kidney table' in one of Gillows' Estimate Sketch Books, dated 1840. It is a model that was made by Gillows of London and Lancaster from 1840 to circa 1860. A similar desk bearing the pencil signature of John Barrow was sold anonymously, Sotheby's, London, 7 July 1995, lot 164. A John Barrow of Lancaster was recorded working in association with Gillows for almost fifty years (until 1840) and as pencil signatures of workmen are often found on pieces produced by the firm, this further strengthens a Gillows attribution.