Description

A fine quality English burr maple wood veneered sewing table inlaid with boxwood and ebony stringing, circa 1920’s The hinged lid enclosing a sliding tray interior, above two shallow frieze drawers, raised on elegant swept and tapered supports.

Provenance: This sewing table was handmade for the mother-in-law Phyllis Hopkins of Fulham London, for her 21st birthday circa 1924, by a family friend (Arthur) an apprentice to Waring & Gillow, this sewing table was exhibited at an Earls Court furniture show prior to being given to Phyllis.

Condition good, commensurate with age and anticipated wear

Size; width 50 cm. x 41 x 92

Stock number; 3028

Price £1,800

Gillows of Lancaster and London, also known as Gillow & Co., was an English furniture making firm based in Lancaster, Lancashire, and in London. It was founded around in Lancaster in about 1730 by Robert Gillow (1704–1772)

Gillows was owned by the family until 1814 when it was taken over by Redmayne, Whiteside, and Ferguson; they continued to use the Gillow name. Gillows furniture was a byword for quality, and other designers used Gillows to manufacture their furniture. Gillows furniture is referred to by Jane Austen, Thackeray and the first Lord Lytton, and in one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operas.[3][a] In 1903 Gillows merged with Warings of Liverpool to become Waring and Gillow and although the furniture remained of a high quality it was not as prestigious.