Chest of drawers
workshop of Gillows of Lancaster
Category
Furniture
Date
1762
Materials
Mahogany, oak, brass, baize
Measurements
81 x 112 x 61 cm
Place of origin
Lancaster
Order this imageCollection
Sizergh Castle, Cumbria
NT 998057
Summary
A mahogany chest of drawers, Lancaster, made by Gillows of Lancaster and delivered to the Jesuit priest William Strickland (1731 - 1819) of Sizergh Castle in August 1762. Of solid mahogany, the top with moulded edge above four long cockbeaded and graduated drawers, with base moulding and ogee bracket feet. The top drawer fitted for both writing and dressing, with a baize-lined slide above compartments and niches. The left-hand drawer lining fitted with an oak drawer, the right-hand drawer lining fitted with a mahogany drawer with compartments for ink bottles and sanders.
Full description
A mahogany chest of drawers, Lancaster, made by Gillows of Lancaster and delivered to the Jesuit priest William Strickland (1731 - 1819) of Sizergh Castle in August 1762. Of solid mahogany, the top with moulded edge above four long cockbeaded and graduated drawers, with base moulding and ogee bracket feet. The top drawer fitted for both writing and dressing, with a baize-lined slide above compartments and niches. The left-hand drawer lining fitted with an oak drawer, the right-hand drawer lining fitted with a mahogany drawer with compartments for ink bottles and sanders. This chest of drawers, ordered the year after Charles Strickland ordered NT 998071 and NT 998005.1 - 10 - a set of seat furniture - cost William Strickland 4 guineas. Although described by furniture historian Susan Stuart as 'a sturdy, functional, unpretentious, medium-quality piece' of furniture, it was clearly designed carefully. Richard Gillow wrote to William Strickland that he had '...made it so deep backward & so strong that twill be better without leggs [sic] to support the writing drawer than wth. 'em'.' By 'leggs', Gillows meant lopers which would typically be located either side of a slightly narrower top drawer, and which would support the extended drawer when open. The Stricklands were repeat customers of Gillows of Lancaster in their early years, and Sizergh contains some of the firm's earliest surviving documented pieces.
Provenance
Sent to William Strickland (1731 - 1819) of Sizergh Castle by Gillows of Lancaster in August 1762. Thence by descent, until given by Henry Hornyold Strickland (1890 – 1975) with Sizergh Castle and its estates in 1950.
Credit line
Megan Wheeler
Makers and roles
workshop of Gillows of Lancaster , cabinetmaker
References
Stuart, Susan 'Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730 - 1840' (2008) 2 vols., Vol. II, pp. 6 - 9, illustrated Plate 530