Object Description
A stunning antique George IV Regency breakfast table in the manner of Gillows, circa 1820 in date.
The lovely figured flame mahogany circular top sits on a mahogany hand turned column with hand carved and line inlaid decoration that is raised on quadruple swept sabre legs that terminate in brass lion’s paw castors. It can seat six people in comfort.
This is a tilt-top table, table, the top of which is hinged to the central pedestal with bolts and clips so that it can be turned from a horizontal to a vertical position and, thereby, when not in use, take up a lot less space.
There is no mistaking that this is the work of a master craftsman which is certain to become a treasured addition to your antique furniture collection, not to mention the proud centrepiece of your reception room.
Condition:
In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 70 cm x Width 140 cm x Depth 140 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 4 inches x Width 4 foot, 7 inches x Depth 4 foot, 7 inches
Gillow & Co.
was originally founded in Lancaster in 1730. Gillow’s of Lancaster was a household name in Victorian Britain, and the firm exported furniture throughout the Empire. Key to the company’s success was the dynamic father and son team at its core.
The London branch was opened in 1775. Among Gillow’s most successful pieces during this period were those made in the Neoclassical style from original drawings by Robert Adam. In the period 1813-1820 the Gillow family gradually withdrew from personal involvement with the business.
In 1897 Gillow & Co. merged with a Liverpool firm and they henceforth traded as Waring & Gillow.
Flame Mahogany
Thomas Sheraton – 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as “best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works up easily, has a beautiful figure and polishes so well that it is an ornament to any room in which it may be placed.” Matching his words to his work, Sheraton designed much mahogany furniture. The qualities that impressed Sheraton are particularly evident in a distinctive pattern of wood called “flame mahogany.”
The flame figure in the wood is revealed by slicing through the face of the branch at the point where it joins another element of the tree.
A Loo table
was a table adapted for a circle of persons playing the popular Victorian card game Loo. However, it is extremely versatile and can be placed in a dining room, bedroom, living room, office or reception.
Regency Furniture
During the Regency period it was fashionable to copy the classical furniture of the Roman and Greek times. Furniture had stopped evolving in design and had moved back to classical forms. The pioneer designers who represented this period were:
Thomas Hope (1770-1831), George Smith (1804-28), Henry Holland (1745 – 1806)
George IV had a major influence over the furniture makers of the time.
This period saw the introduction of brass to wood from the previous marquetry that had been originally used. The sofa table was also introduced.
The main features of the Regency period furniture were their simplicity, with straight, unbroken surfaces and lines.
Our reference: A3791