Antique George III Gillows Cuban Mahogany Side Table Cope & Collinson 19th Century Circa 1820

Elegant early 19th Century George III Gillows attributed Cuban Mahogany ‘Low Boy’ Side Table Secretaire with stamped Cope & Collinson brass locks circa 1820, the rectangular top over two short drawers and one long drawer incorporating a secretaire desk feature covered in black rexine with a lift up lid by way of a brass recessed ring pull and compartment to the right side for pens, the drawers with four brass bat shaped handles and brass escutcheons, raised on turned and tapering legs typical of Gillows design, the table is offered in excellent condition having recently been restored, reserve now.

Background

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 in Lancaster in circa 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. 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.