Pier table
attributed to Gillow and Co.
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1820 - circa 1830
Materials
Rosewood and carved rosewood, or goncalo alvez, the top of specimen marbles and stones, mirror plate to the rear, mahogany carcase
Measurements
96.5 x 148 x 80 cm
Place of origin
Oxford Street
Order this imageCollection
Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire
NT 959802.2
Summary
A pier table, one of a pair of rosewood or goncalo alvez per tables, topped by specimen marble and stone slabs, attributed to Gillow & Co., of London, circa 1820 - 1830. The tops of a different design, this example formed from lozenges of specimen marbles alternating with lozenges of grey-veined white marble. Inset into the table with acanthus leaf-carved edge, above shaped and shell-carved friezes and raised to the front on a pair of boldly scrolling, moulded and leaf carved truss legs, a small gadrooned collar below. The rear legs of pilaster form flanking the mirror back, all on a platform with concave front and lotus-moulded edge.
Full description
Probably commissioned by Charles Winn (d. 1875), who refurbished several rooms following his marriage in 1819 in conjunction with the designer Thomas Ward of 67 Frith Street, Soho Square, London. Other commissions were a suite of giltwood furniture [NT 960306.1 - 5], bookcases [NT 959720.1 - .5], a folio stand [NT 959817], and probably the dining room table [NT 959747] which also remain at Nostell Priory. Neither of this pair of tables is stamped, but the substantial rococo or neo-Baroque revival style fleshy leaf-carved legs are found on other tables which appear in room settings draughted by the Oxford Street firm of Gillow & Co. between 1813 and 1830. In addition, payments to Gillow & Co. were made by Charles Winn in 1822 (£30 19s 0d), 1825 (the sum unspecified) and 1826 (£395-3s-4d). The specimen marbles were supplied separately by the family and similar squares remain in the drawers under the bookcases in the Library, possibly acquired by John Winn (d. 1817) whilst on the Grand Tour. (Megan Wheeler, February 2018)
Provenance
Purchased by the National Trust in 2002.
Makers and roles
attributed to Gillow and Co., cabinetmaker
References
Stuart, Susan 'Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730 - 1840' (2008) 2 vols., Volume II, p. 359, illustrated Plate E24 Raikes, 2003: S.Raikes. ““A cultivated eye for the antique”: Charles Winn and the enrichment of Nostell Priory in the nineteenth century.” Apollo 157.494 (2003): pp.3-8.