A FINE VICTORIAN BURR WALNUT KIDNEY SHAPED DESK

A FINE VICTORIAN BURR WALNUT KIDNEY SHAPED DESK

BY GILLOWS, C.1850-60

the top inset with later gilt tooled green leather, above an arrangement of ten drawers, the frieze drawer stamped 'Gillow', the underside with a pencil signature for 'John Barrow', with a brass lock stamped 'J. T. Needs, 128 Piccadilly, Late J. Bramah 134 Piccadilly' with side pilaster locking bars, the back with three open bookshelves on castors

74.3cm high, 130.5cm wide, 59cm deep

Catalogue Note

The form of the present lot is derived from a design by Thomas Sheraton in his 'The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book' of 1802, pl.58. The kidney shape form was one of Gillows best known models. A drawing of a similar desk, 'An oak Pedestal and Kidney Table' can be seen in the Gillow's Estimate Sketch Books, dated 1840. See also Susan Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, vol. 1, pp..338-339, pl. 393 for a related desk that was sold by Bonhams, 14th March 2006 for £54,000 (including premium).

John Barrow was apprenticed to Leonard Redmayne in 1826 and appears in the Gillow's records between 1834 and 1848, see Susan Stuart, op.cit., vol.11 p.215. Related desks bearing John Barrow's signature were sold at Sotheby's London, 15th November 1996, lot 113 and Bonhams, London, 12th June 2013, lot 183.