Regency-style Mahogany Carlton House Desk

Description:

Regency-style Mahogany Carlton House Desk, England, late 19th century, attributed to Gillows of Lancaster, partridge wood and harewood cross-banded borders, curved superstructure with pierced brass urn and foliate scroll gallery, over six cross-banded tulipwood central drawers which are flanked by cupboard doors, and two sloping compartment covers for writing implements, gilt-tooled butterscotch-hued leather writing surface, above frieze of three drawers with brass ring pulls, long central drawer stamped "GILLOWS" on interior edge, with "GILLOWS LANCASTER" stamped on hardware of drawers, all resting on fluted tapered columnar legs with lotus leaf capitals and terminating in turned feet, ht. 42 1/2, wd. 52 1/4, dp. 27 1/4 in,

N. B. This form originated in 1790 when cabinetmaker John Kerr supplied a desk of similar nature to the Prince of Wales for Carlton House. The main innovation of this design was that it influenced many cabinetmakers to make similar Carlton House desks finished on all four sides so that it could be floated in a room.

Founded in 1728 by Robert Gillow of Lancaster, England, the Gillows company grew to be successful in cabinetmaking for many decades, often providing pieces to royal households, until they found themselves in the midst of a very competitive furniture market of the late 19th century. The Gillows company then established a partnership with Warings of Liverpool in 1897, and in 1903, were bought out by the firm, thus changing the name to Waring & Gillows.

This desk bears resemblance to a Carlton House desk featured in Judith Miller's article on the Gillows firm published in the Telegraph UK, October 2013.
Estimate $10,000-15,000


The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

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