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A George IV mahogany mechanical escritoire attributed to Gillows

Creator: Gillows of Lancaster & London (Attributed)
Offered by: Wick Antiques LTD

Description
A George IV mahogany mechanical escritoire attributed to Gillows, of rectangular form with a vertical superstructure on reeded cabriole legs with a turned stretcher and the original brass castors, pulling out the frieze drawer triggers a mechanism which extends the leather-inset fitted desktop and rolls up the front panel to reveal a central shelf surrounded by eight small drawers and eight pigeonholes, decorated with cross-banding and herring bone veneers. English, circa 1820.

Footnote: Susan E Stuart in ‘Gillows of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840,’ Antique Collectors’ Club, Woodbridge, 2008 Vol.II, p381, pl. GG34, illustrates a similar secretaire writing desk. The first published version of this design appeared in Ackermann’s Directory in January1810 and it was also illustrated in the Lancaster Estimate Sketch Book that same year.

More Information

Origin:	England
Period:	19th Century
Materials:	mahogany, inset leather and brass with herringbone veneers
Condition:	Good.
Creation Date:	c 1820
Styles / Movements:	George IV, Traditional
Incollect Reference #:	497812

Message from Seller:

Wick Antiques was established by Charles Wallrock in the early 1980s. Having grown up in the Antiques world Charles developed an extensive wealth of knowledge. Starting out as a ‘man with a van’ he quickly gained a good reputation and embarked on a longstanding relationship with Harrods. He was later joined by his wife, Caroline Wallrock. Caroline having completed a Persian degree, went on to study at Christie’s fine art and then joined Sotheby’s specializing in Islamic and Japanese works of art