The low wardrobe, with palm-flowered frieze, formed part of the principal suite of bedroom furnishings commissioned around 1820 for Thoresby Hall, Nottinghamshire, from Gillows of London and Lancaster by Charles Herbert Pierrepont, 2nd Earl Manvers (1778-1860). Its form of enrichments was described by the firm as comprising 'neat moulded pilasters, carved trusses and patteras', while the doors' Grecian-fretted mouldings were called 'Lozenge corners'. It corresponds to Gillow's 'Rutland' pattern, such as the wardrobe they executed in July 1820 for Belvoir Castle, Rutland for John Henry Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland (d. 1857) (see Gillows' Estimate Sketch Book, no. 3053).
Gillows also published a design for a breakfront press closely related to the present lot (ibid no.3352).
The Manvers accounts reveal that purchases from Gillows amounted to over £3,000 in the early 1820s. Much of this furniture and many of the related Gillows sketches can be found in the Sotheby's catalogue for the Thorseby Hall house sale, 31 May-2 June 1989, including a wardrobe (lot 457) in the same style as the present lot and costing £32 6s 9d.