A Rediscovered Pair of George III Mahogany Bookcases by Gillows
Stock No: 11154/HAKON
£38,000.00
In-stock
Country: England
Date: Circa 1775 - 1785
Medium: Mahogany
Dimensions
Height: 234.00cm (92.13 inches)
Width: 91.00cm (35.83 inches)
Depth: 50.00cm (19.69 inches)
Depth Framed: 92cm (36.22 inches)
Main description
This rediscovered pair of George III mahogany bookcases by Gillows of Lancaster and London dates to the late 18th century during the Hepplewhite period circa 1780 and has been reunited after many years apart. Although unsigned, the construction, timber selection, design details and surviving Gillows archive references support the firm manufacture to Gillows.
Each bookcase has an overhanging cornice above a carved dentil moulding, with end grain mahogany veneers set over a solid thumbnail moulding. The glazed upper doors are framed with figured mahogany and fitted with an unusual oval astragal arrangement, executed in long grain mahogany and finely inlaid with a single ebony outline. The doors open to reveal three original adjustable oak shelves with figured oak backboards.
The lower drawer sections are cross banded with contrasting flamed mahogany panels outlined in boxwood stringing and retain their original gilt brass oval drop handles with central oval patera. Handles of closely related form are illustrated in surviving Gillows archive material and in Susan E. Stuart’s Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, Volume II, page 335, illustrations an and b.
One bookcase is fitted with a fully appointed secretaire drawer opening to reveal a bespoke interior of mahogany lined drawers and pigeonholes above a green baize writing surface. The corresponding drawer on the second bookcase is unfitted and was designed as a deep storage drawer. Externally, however, the two remain identical in form.
The lower cupboard doors are centred by ascending flamed mahogany oval panels, framed by tulipwood crossbanding with ebony and boxwood stringing. On the secretaire bookcase, the doors open to reveal a bank of three full length oak lined drawers retaining their original gilt brass swan neck handles. The second bookcase opens to reveal a cupboard fitted with an adjustable shelf.
Both bookcases stand on crossbanded plinth bases with bold mahogany outlines and terminate on fine bracket feet.
The pair was rediscovered when a visiting trade colleague recognised the similarity between a bookcase in the Freshfords collection and an apparently identical example he had owned for many years following its purchase at auction in Wales. The two were subsequently brought together and examined side by side in the workshop.
Detailed comparison of the doors, drawers, shelves, carcasses, oval panels, cornice construction and backboards showed them to have been made in the same workshop and at the same time. The flamed mahogany veneers were also found to have been cut and laid in a matching descending arrangement, with mitred joints and timber cuts corresponding across both pieces.
The internal differences appear to have been deliberate from the outset. One bookcase was made to function as a writing and document cabinet, with a fitted secretaire and internal drawers, while the other was designed primarily for storage and display. Despite these different internal roles, the exterior treatment is matched throughout, confirming that they were conceived as a pair.
Their separation at some point in the past remains unexplained, but their reunion has restored an important aspect of their original design and use. Finding a single Gillows bookcase of this quality is unusual; to identify and reunite a true pair with matching construction, timbers and complementary internal arrangements is considerably more significant.
For further information on this rediscovered pair of Bookcases by Gillows see our article A Historic Discovery: Reuniting a Rare Pair of George III Bookcases by Gillows in the journal.
Depth – 92cm (36.22″) with the draws open
Literature
Gillows of Lancaster and London by Susan E. Stuart (2008)
– The brass handles that adorn the bookcases are featured and illustrated within many sketches of the Gillows archives and within the book ‘Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840’ Volume II, p.335, illustration a & b and written by Susan E.Stuart.
– The illustration of figure ‘A’ is most similar with the back plate and the ring pull being of a slightly different variant.
Who Were Gillows of Lancaster and London?
Gillows of Lancaster and London were among Britain’s most celebrated cabinet makers, producing exceptional furniture from the Georgian period through to the early twentieth century. Established around 1730, the firm earned an international reputation for outstanding cabinet making, innovative designs and meticulous craftsmanship, with surviving furniture remaining highly sought after by collectors today.
For further information, see our Makers and Retailers encyclopaedia on Gillows of Lancaster and London.
Who was George Hepplewhite?
George Hepplewhite was one of the leading English furniture designers of the eighteenth century, working in London from the 1760s until his death in 1786. His reputation was established largely after his death through The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide, published by his widow Alice Hepplewhite in 1788. The book helped define the late Georgian Hepplewhite style, characterised by lighter proportions, curved forms, fine veneers, delicate stringing and restrained Neoclassical decoration. Hepplewhite’s designs were widely adopted by leading workshops, including Gillows, and period furniture is often described as being in the Hepplewhite taste or Hepplewhite period rather than being made personally by Hepplewhite himself.
For further information, see our Makers and Retailers encyclopaedia on George Hepplewhite.
What is Astragal glazing?
Astragal glazing refers to the decorative wooden framework or glazing bars used on glazed cabinet doors to secure individual panes of glass within a structured design. Popularised throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries during the Georgian and Regency periods, astragal glazing allowed cabinetmakers to craft intricate geometric, oval, and gothic lattice patterns across the display sections of bookcases, secretaires, and display cabinets.
The term derives from classical architecture, where an astragal describes a small convex semicircular moulding. In fine furniture making, these narrow wooden bars are carved with a delicate rolled bead profile on the front surface. On the reverse, the bars feature a rebated edge that holds each hand blown glass pane in place, secured with traditional putty or fine wood pins.
In fine 18th century cabinetmaking, most notably in the workshops of master makers such as Gillows of Lancaster and London, executing complex astragal glazing was a sign of supreme technical mastery. Crafting curved or oval astragals required shaping long grain timber, such as fine mahogany, into delicate geometric forms, often inlaid with microscopic boxwood or ebony stringing, without compromising the structural integrity of the door frame. Beyond their structural purpose of holding glass, astragal glazing bars remain a key diagnostic feature for dating period furniture and verifying the skill of its maker.
What Is Mahogany?
Mahogany is one of the most important and widely used hardwoods in the history of antique furniture. Celebrated for its strength, stability and rich colouring, it became the defining cabinet making timber of the Georgian, Regency and Victorian periods, appearing in everything from dining tables and bookcases to chests of drawers and library furniture.
For further information, see our Woods encyclopaedia on Mahogany.
What Is the George III Period?
The George III period (1760-1820) is widely regarded as one of the finest periods of English furniture making. Influenced by designers such as Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton, furniture from the period is recognised for its elegant proportions, high quality cabinet making and the widespread use of mahogany, satinwood and other fine timbers.
For further information, see our Antique Furniture Periods encyclopaedia on Georgian Period.
Why Buy From Freshfords Antiques?
Established in 1987, Freshfords Antiques has spent nearly four decades sourcing and curating the finest examples of English antique furniture. Our reputation is built upon a deep-rooted specialism in the Georgian and Regency periods, where we focus on selecting pieces that retain their genuine age, original patination, and unimpeachable authenticity. We believe that an antique should not only be a significant historical object but also a functional and beautiful addition to a contemporary home.
As proud members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA), we operate under a rigorously enforced code of conduct that prioritises professional integrity and expertise. Membership of BADA is only granted after a thorough election procedure and is subject to annual review, ensuring that our clients can purchase with complete confidence. When you acquire a piece from Freshfords, you are benefiting from a wealth of experience, a dedication to craftsmanship, and a commitment to preserving the heritage of the finest English cabinet making.
Literature
- The brass handles that adorn the bookcases are featured and illustrated within many sketches of the Gillows archives and within the book 'Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840' Volume II, p.335, illustration a & b and written by Susan E.Stuart.
- The illustration of figure 'A' is most similar with the back plate and the ring pull being of a slightly different variant.
