Double Sided Twin Pedestal Partner Desk

Stunning and exceptionally rare gillows lancaster twin pedestal double sided partner desk in panelled figured oak an exceptionally rare example of a early victorian partner desk made by one of the finest if not the finest furnisher in english history, gillows of lancaster and london i’ll include a short biography below on gillows for those who aren’t fine furniture connoisseurs. The desk is fully stamped in the middle drawer gillows - lancaster and has the correct bramha stamped locks under the crown the desk is made from figured oak which has a wonderful patina throughout, oak tends to be quite a plain grained timber but not this, it is exquisite the desk is double sided as mentioned, the idea being two partners shared either side, the main side has a full suite of nine drawers, the back side has two large cupboards, pieces like this are very rare and highly collectable. Dimensions height 75.5 cm width 136.5 cm depth 84.5 cm leg room height 61 cm width 55 cm please note all measurements are taken at the widest point 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. 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. Gillow family (1728–1814) in 1728 robert gillow began trading in lancaster as a joiner, builder, house carpenter, furniture maker and overseas merchant. By the summer of 1731 he had entered into a partnership with a fellow catholic, george haresnape, which had ended by 1735. By 1734 six other names appeared on their staff list. Gillows notably made heavy use of mahogany wood, which is indigenous to the americas, from the early 1730s. In the early 1740s, gillow owned a twelfth share of the ship briget, which he partially used to import mahogany from the west indies. The success of the firm was partly due to his ability to directly import mahogany; by 1742 gillow was exporting finished mahogany furniture back to the west indies. On 1 january 1757 robert entered into an equal partnership with his son richard gillow (1733–1811), and the firm was known as robert gillow & son. Richard was also the architect for several buildings in lancaster. He financed the building of the catholic church in dalton square, lancaster in 1798. The family's catholic history was important in building up a customer base within lancashire's gentry, and their subsequent purchase of leighton hall, lancashire from a cousin in 1822. On 31 december 1768 robert gillow I retired and left his share of the firm to his other son, robert gillow ii (1747–1795). In 1769 and 1770, a shop at 176 oxford street, london, was sent up by the brothers' cousin, thomas gillow (1736–1779), to sell their furniture. Goodison and hardy state that the firm opened a london branch in 1760 at 176 oxford road. By 1775 the lancaster branch had 42 employees, and by 1789 there were about 50 employees. Condition please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition please note vintage period and original items such as leather seating will always have natural patina in the form of cracking creasing and wear, we recommend regular waxing to ensure no moisture is lost, also hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade.