Stock ref: DS2422

Circa 1820s/30s

Lancaster’s finest, a beautifully  wax patinated  Regency period Mahogany Chest of Drawers from our home City  designers and manufacturers Gillow’s. Features  three short drawers over  three graduated long drawers below, each with cock beading around the drawer fronts and original brass escutcheons and locks, most with their original paper drawer linings intact. Original rosewood drawer knobs.  The top centre drawer is stamped GILLOWS . LANCASTER, the right upper drawer is signed in pencil on the underside by the craftsman R Dixon. Standing on its original  bun feet. The original pattern for this chest is recorded in the Gillows Estimate Sketch Books for 1821.

Presents in wonderful waxed condition with excellent patina, following a careful sympathetic clean and wax polish  for us by the professional antique restorer David Podmore at Andrew Podmore & Son, York. Minor repairs were made to the original beading on the right side edge of the  top  which had split in two and there’s a small chip to one lower drawer knob. Elsewhere just the expected minor scuffs / scratches  from normal usage in the last 200 years, but no staining, and the careful wax polishing has ensured a wonderful rich patina has been maintained. There’s no evidence of any woodworm in the past. The rear is all original… it still has the original hand forged large pin which would have held the price label in place.

Enclosed in the image montage are some images weve taken of the original Gillows office and workshops in use when this piece was being made, close to both the quayside and castle, together with their altogether larger and more impressive office, showroom and workshops opened in 1882 and in use until final closure. The latter premises have very recently been converted into very high end student accommodation for Lancaster University students.

Provenance: purchased from the grade II listed Wormington Grange, Worcestershire.

We believe it is most sensibly priced, some recent auction results for genuine  and attributed Gillows pieces in this design are detailed below, some pieces requiring significant repair / refinishing:

Christies, 15/11/2017, £ 4750 (attributed only)
Christies 11/1/2017, £ 3,250 (attributed only)
Christies  11/1/2017, £ 3,500 (attributed only)
Bonhams 11/3/2015, £ 6,000 (stamped Gillows)
Bonhams 4/11/2015, £ 5,250 (stamped Gillows)

Size: 118(w) x 52.5(d) x 108.5(h)cm

£ 2,495 ( price reduction Oct 2024 )