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English Regency Flame Mahogany Gillows Secretaire

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English Regency Flame Mahogany Gillows Secretaire Secretaire  Chest drawers %%alt5%% %%alt6%%
Here is a stunning quality antique English Regency flame mahogany Secretaire chest of drawers, circa 1830, by Gillows of Lancaster, which is in good condition and is completely original, having been constructed of the finest materials.

Summary:
• Item: Secretaire
• Circa: 1830
• Period: Regency
• Provenance: England
• Wood: Flame Mahogany
• Cabinetmaker: Gillows of Lancaster
• Signed by Richard Irvin (Gillows cabinetmaker)
• Mahogany gallery
• Original working Bramah lock (with original key)
• Hinged Secretaire writing compartment
• 9 internal mahogany drawers
• 6 internal pigeon holes
• Original ink wells & pen tray
• Original dark navy blind tooled leather
• Original brass hinged arm supports with locking mechanism
• Original turned rosewood knobs
• Decorative quarter veneered insets (top drawer)
• Double “D” moulded doors
• 8 large Internal graduated document drawers
• Original flush brass handles
• Hand dovetailed mahogany linings
• Original melon turned feet
• Original pine backboards
• Completely original
• Stunning colour & patination
• Excellent condition & quality
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland
• Free 14 days UK returns policy

Description:
Here is a stunning quality antique English Regency flame mahogany Secretaire chest of drawers, circa 1830, by Gillows of Lancaster, which is in good condition and is completely original, having been constructed of the finest materials. Featuring a mahogany gallery above a moulded top, the flame mahogany veneered drawer, which retains its original working Bramah lock (and key) and original turned rosewood knobs, slides out and folds down (by unlocking the original brass mechanism on the drawer linings) to reveal a compartmentalized desktop interior. Please note, only the best quality pieces of antique furniture incorporated Bramah locks they were the most sophisticated locks available at the time, as they were impenetrable (compared to lever locks). The interior comprises of six pigeonholes, flanked by nine small mahogany drawers, all of which are mahogany lined and hand dovetailed. The internal drawers retain their original rosewood turned knobs on mahogany drawer fronts with the finest quality hand dovetailed mahogany linings. The bottom right drawer boasts two original inkwells and pen tray. The writing surface boasts the original dark navy blind-tooled inset leather.

The top drawer of the Secretaire is decorated with double “D” mouldings and the original turned rosewood knobs and the ornate squares are inset with quarter veneers, on a flame mahogany veneered background. The carcass incorporates vertical reeded columns, below carved rosettes. Further below, there are two flame mahogany doors also exhibiting matching “D” mouldings with quarter veneers, which open up to reveal a bank of eight graduated internal document drawers. The doors retain their original working brass lever lock and original key. Please note, only the best quality pieces of furniture had doors, which enclosed the drawers. The drawers retain their original brass inset military handles they are also mahogany lined and constructed to the highest standard with fine hand dovetail joints. The Secretaire is raised on its original melon turned bun feet below a breakfront-moulded frieze, the carcass retains its original panelled backboards. This is an extremely heavy piece of antique furniture, which is testament to the quality construction and the finest materials used at the time.

The following provides further details and history of the famous Bramah locks: “In 1784, Joseph Bramah designed a round lock mechanism operated by a tubular key, of such complexity and security, that he put it in his shop window and offered a reward of 200 guineas to anyone who could open it. In 1851, at the Great Exhibition in London, A.C Hobbs an American locksmith spent 52 hours spread over 16 days and claimed the prize, but the method and spirit under which it was claimed is commented on by the London Times under the heading of 'the Great Lock Controversy” (source: )

The Secretaire features a mellow brown mahogany colour. As it boasts the original polish, it has a fantastic colour and patination this can only be achieved through age and years of care and cleaning it has received.

This item would look superb in a variety of rooms, from the landing to the bedroom. This campaign chest would certainly grace any home. So don't miss out your chance to own a lovely piece of antique furniture.

Provenance:
Interestingly, the eighth internal drawer bottom is signed by the cabinetmaker, Richard Irvin, who was an employee of Gillows of Lancaster workshop between the years 1821 - 1841. There is reference to Richard Irvin’s work in possibly the most authoritative books on Gillows furniture, called “Gillows of Lancaster & London, 1730 – 1840” written by Susan E. Stuart (see photos).

Although this Secretaire is not stamped Gillows of Lancaster, it was most likely privately commissioned for a wealthy customer, rather than being “retailed”. However, not all of their furniture was stamped. It should be noted that this piece was sourced from a private residence, where it had been in situ since it was built. Items that were “retailed” by the Gillows of Lancaster usually bore the stamp on one of the drawer linings.

It is worth noting the same designs were used in other Gillows pieces of furniture, which can be viewed at the historic stately home of Tatton Park in Cheshire, England.

Gillows of Lancaster and London, also known as Gillow & Co., was a furniture-making firm based in Lancaster, Lancashire, and in London. It was originally established in Lancaster in about 1730 by Robert Gillow (1704-1772). The family owned Gillows 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. They were the largest company of its type outside London where they maintained showrooms and workshops. They had a solid reputation for quality. The company won commissions to furnish and decorate public buildings in Australia, South Africa, India, Russia, Germany, France and the U.S. It provided furniture for aristocratic houses, such as Tatton Hall, where some 150 extant pieces complement the work of the architect Lewis William Wyatt. Details of the commissions can be found in the Pattern Books in the Gillow archives. By 1897, they were over extended and formed an informal partnership with Warings of Liverpool. In 1903 Warings bought them out and the two companies became Waring & Gillows (Source: Wikipedia).

Dimensions:
External Height = 116.5cm or 45⅞” or 3ft 9⅞”
Writing Height = 70.6cm or 27¾” or 2ft 3¾”
Width = 106.7cm or 42” or 3ft 6”
Depth = 57.4cm or 22⅝” or 1ft 10⅝”

Condition Report:
This is a stunning quality Secretaire in completely original condition. Nominal old use marks to the corners and leading edges, including old use marks to the top of the Secretaire within the galleried area (see photos), but nothing significant considering the age of the item. The item retains all of its original drawer knobs, working locks, keys, leather, drawer linings, ink wells, pen tray, brass handles & hinges, feet, backboards and polish. It is very rare to see a piece of furniture of this quality in completely original condition. As the leather is original, there are age related old use marks to the work surface. The Secretaire retains its original working locking mechanism. All drawers close flush to the frame and feature the original working locks (with a key). The item stands on its original feet and incorporates the original backboards. As it boasts the original polish, it has a fantastic mellow colour and patination this can only be achieved through age and years of care and cleaning it has received. This is an extremely heavy piece of furniture, which is testament to the quality construction and the finest materials used at the time. It is extremely rare to see a piece of furniture of this quality in original condition.

Customer Service:
We offer customer satisfaction through the following services:
• Free delivery to England, Wales & Southern Scotland
• Free 14 Day Returns
• Full money back assurance
• Worldwide shipping
• Full insurance of items in transit
• Full assembly service
• Packaging removed & recycled

Further Information:
For more information or photographs please email or call us.

Office: 01829 458 070
Julian: 07960 738 212
Yolanda: 07971 882 567

Customers outside the UK should call:

Office: 00 44 1829 458 070
Julian: 00 44 7960 738 212
Yolanda: 00 44 7971 882 567

Free UK Delivery:
We offer free delivery to mainland England, Wales, and Southern Scotland (anywhere south of Stirling). We do not offer free delivery to locations north of Stirling in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or any British Islands off the mainland for example, the Isle of Man, Isle of White and Channel Islands. If you live in one of the areas where we do not offer free delivery, please contact us for a delivery quote before purchasing the item. Delivery will be made by our specialised antique furniture delivery service, or in some cases we will use a courier service for distant deliveries.

Delivery times are usually 1-4 weeks depending on location we aim to deliver the majority of items within 2 weeks. All items are professionally packaged and fully insured in transit, therefore, we can assure you, your items will be securely protected in transit and arrive safely with you.

Once you have purchased an item, we will contact you by email and/or telephone and provide you with a provisional delivery date, in order for you to confirm if it is suitable for you. Once you have confirmed you can accept delivery on the provisional delivery date, we will book the delivery in with our shippers and it then becomes a confirmed delivery date.

We will also provide you with our shippers' contact details, in case you need to contact the driver on the day of delivery. It's helpful if you can provide us with both the landline and mobile telephone number, in case the driver cannot reach you on one of the numbers on the day of delivery, they can contact you on your alternative number.

In order to be able to offer you free delivery, it is based on a 1-man delivery only. For any large items that require 2 people to lift the item, we ask that you are available at the time of delivery to be able to give our shipper a lift off the van and into your house with the item. If you are not able to lift items yourself, we ask that you have someone on hand at the time of delivery to assist our shipper with lifting the item.

Free 14 Days UK Returns & Refunds:
A free 14-day “no quibble” returns policy (from the date you receive the item) is available if you are not happy with this item. We will collect the item free of charge from you (we do not charge a return fee / collection fee). You will be given a full refund as long as the item is returned in the same condition. We will collect returns using our own specialist furniture delivery company. We will not accept returns via a courier service (due to experience of damaged items in transit). This refund policy only applies to deliveries to the UK.

UK Buyer Payment:
For UK buyers, we accept cash on collection or delivery cheque, credit card, BACS (free bank to bank transfer) or PayPal. Payment is requested within 5 days of the sale. Payment must be cleared before the items are collected or delivered.

International Buyers:
If you live outside the UK and you would like to purchase this item, please contact us before purchasing it, so that we can obtain an accurate shipping quote and delivery lead-time. The shipping quote provided is a global estimate only. The actual shipping cost will vary by country and postcode. Due to the distances and costs involved with shipping outside the UK, a returns policy is therefore not available for international buyers. Before placing your order(s) please make sure this is the item for you. We request payment by bank transfer (we do not accept payment via PayPal or credit card for international purchases). Payment is requested within 10 days of the purchase. Payment must be cleared before the items are collected or delivered to our shippers. The advertised price of the item does not include the shipping cost, sales tax, import duty or custom fees.

Important information regarding PayPal payment:
We only accept payment from fully verified PayPal account holders with confirmed addresses only. Items will only be sent to the confirmed address registered in PayPal. If you purchase an item and your address is not confirmed, your payment will be refunded and the purchase cancelled. It only takes a few moments to verify and confirm your PayPal details.

About the Seller:
This item is being sold by Yolanda Gray Antiques who is an accredited member of LAPADA (the UK’s largest Trade Association of Professional Art and Antique Dealers) and CINOA. CINOA is the world association of Art & Antique dealer associations. All LAPADA & CINOA members abide by their strict code of practice by adhering to reputable standards of quality, expertise and integrity.

Yolanda Gray has dealt in fine art and antique furniture for over 40 years. Yolanda Gray has a special interest in Colonial furniture, specifically Colonial Four Poster Beds. Yolanda Gray also provides a variety of fine English Antique Furniture, Art and Fabrics to clients in the UK, Europe and further afield.

Please visit the Yolanda Gray website at for further items and information.

Ref. Chest of Drawers 53
Price
£0.00  UK
$0.00  USA
0.00  EU
 The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 27/MAR/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
 Free delivery to anywhere in mainland England, Wales & Southern Scotland
 
DimensionsExternal Height = 116.5cm or 45⅞” or 3ft 9⅞” Writing Height = 70.6cm or 27¾” or 2ft 3¾” Width = 106.7cm or 42” or 3ft 6” Depth = 57.4cm or 22⅝” or 1ft 10⅝” Date Circa 1830  Regency Antiques Material Mahogany Origin English Maker Gillows Condition This is a stunning quality Secretaire in completely original condition. Nominal old use marks to the corners and leading edges, including old use marks to the top of the Secretaire within the galleried area (see photos), but nothing significant considering the age of the item. The item retains all of its original drawer knobs, working locks, keys, leather, drawer linings, ink wells, pen tray, brass handles & hinges, feet, backboards and polish. It is very rare to see a piece of furniture of this quality in completely original condition. As the leather is original, there are age related old use marks to the work surface. The Secretaire retains its original working locking mechanism. All drawers close flush to the frame and feature the original working locks (with a key). The item stands on its original feet and incorporates the original backboards. As it boasts the original polish, it has a fantastic mellow colour and patination this can only be achieved through age and years of care and cleaning it has received. This is an extremely heavy piece of furniture, which is testament to the quality construction and the finest materials used at the time. It is extremely rare to see a piece of furniture of this quality in original condition. Item code as236a1226 / Chest of Drawers 53 Status Sold

SellerYola Gray Antiques

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Yola Gray Antiques


Yola Gray AntiquesUnit 4, Organsdale Farm
Kelsall,
Tarporley
Cheshire
CW6 0SR

Tel : 01829 458 070

Non UK callers : +44 1829 458 070

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English Regency Flame Mahogany Gillows Secretaire
 
as236a1226 / Chest of Drawers 53
 


 
 






 

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