Driscolls Antiques – Antique Furniture Blog

Antique furniture by Gillows furniture makers.

Gillows of Lancaster furniture or later know as Waring and Gillow produced some of the finest pieces of English antique furniture and is one of the most well known furniture companies today. They Traded from 1731 to as recent as 1986.

In the early 18^th century the company Gillows was founded by Robert Gillow. He served his apprenticeship as a joiner and cabinet maker. When he died his firm was taken over by his two sons Richard and Robert Gillow and they expanded the business to London where they quickly got a good reputation of supplying superb quality furniture, using only the finest materials and there own unique designs. They became one of the richest families in England.

The firm became so popular they were supplying wealthy middle class to the aristocracy. 

In 1903 Gillows joined forces with the company Waring of Liverpool and the firm became known as Waring and Gillows. In 1980 Waring and Gillow joined with the cabinet making firm Maple & Co, to become Maple, Waring and Gillow. All the major furniture makers together.

Unfortunately only around 40 % of Gillows furniture was stamped so that is why you see so many pieces associated to Gillows.

The stamp GILLOWS LANCASTER first appeared on furniture in the 1780s. By ca.1850 GILLOW is found stamped on pieces. By the end of the 19th Century GILLOW & Co is often found, and Waring and Gillow was continued up to the 1950′s. Some pieces that were not made for a special order would be stamped with the letter L for Lancaster and would follow numbers.

Stamps are usually found on the underside of table tops, on the edges of drawers, on the back leg of antique chairs or sometimes the signature would be written in pencil under drawer linings.

If you buy a piece of antique furniture by Gillows you know you are buying quality, with its own special characteristics, quality craftsmanship and quality timber. Also they are so well known today and they will never be forgotten so for investment purposes, this is the type of furniture you should be buying.

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