Today we are shining a spotlight on one of the most successful cabinetmaking firms of the 18th and 19th century: Gillows of Lancaster & London. (For information on other cabinetmakers, look here: Thomas Chippendale, William Gomm, and Pierre Langlois). The Gillows family firm was established in Lancaster as early as the 1730s. Throughout the eighteenth … Continue reading It Runs in the Family: The Incredible Gillows Family of Cabinetmakers
Rosewood
Regal Rosewood: A Closer Look at the Exotic Timber
Rosewood refers to a variety of different species of heavy, dense, dark-streaked timbers. It is commonly believed that rosewood got its name from its rose-like scent, but this is not the case. Its signature characteristic is the streaky purple-black figure. Rosewood has been imported from Brazil since trade routes opened in 1808. Indian rosewood was … Continue reading Regal Rosewood: A Closer Look at the Exotic Timber
Coming Full Circle: Centre Tables
Whether you call it a centre table or a center table (hello Americans!), there is no doubt that these pieces are incredibly useful and attractive in the modern interior. We have a magnificent William IV mahogany centre table possibly by Gillows of Lancaster & London featuring the neo-classical taste of Thomas Hope. The circular top … Continue reading Coming Full Circle: Centre Tables
The Source 