25
Lot
25
An important George III satinwood, marquetry and tulipwood banded demi-lune commode attributed to Gillows
The top banded in tulipwood with a chevron marquetry banding and centred by an elliptical panel, above a pair of doors centred by oval panels of marquetry shells on a harewood ground and enclosing a shelf, flanked by bowed end panel doors centred by stylised conch shells on harewood grounds, each enclosing two shelves, on square section tapering cross banded feet, the reverse of the commode constructed of four fielded panels, to be sold together with Nora Zeigler's copy of R.W Symonds, "Masterpieces of English Furniture and Clocks" inscribed to Miss L.N Ziegler132cm wide, 57cm deep, 91.5cm high.
Provenance:
The Ziegler family of Ziegler & Co, Carpet manufacturers and merchants, Manchester
Nora Ziegler (1888-1969) and thence by descent to:
Rupert James Mawson Howe (1911-1971) and thence by descent to the vendor.
The commode offered here is attributed to Gillows on the basis of its similarity in both materials, design and construction to the documented Workington Commode supplied by the firm to John Christian Curwen M.P (1756-1828). Both commodes are veneered in satinwood and banded in purplewood and incorporate similar marquetry shells, while the shell decoration on the commode offered here is more complex, the Workington Commode features highly unusual figurative panels. The commodes both have the same ‘French’ feet, overhanging tops and identical detailed chevron banding. The coloured design for the Workington commode appears in the Gillow Estimate Sketch book for 1788 and is reproduced in L.Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, Hertfordshire 1995, colour plate 12.
Similar shell marquetry in combination with a plain purplewood elliptical panel on the top appears on the satinwood marquetry card table stamped Gillow of Lancaster and London and illustrated in S. Stuart, Gillow of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840, Vol. 2, Suffolk, 2008, pl.GG63, p.393
In 1788, the prominent cabinetmakers Gillows of Lancaster crafted an exceptional satinwood commode for John Christian, M.P., intended for his Dressing Room at Workington Hall, one of his Cumbrian estates. This semi-circular commode exemplifies the firm’s most ambitious work of the period, featuring four doors, inlaid shell motifs, and elaborate marquetry. The piece cost Gillows £11.5s.0d. to produce and was sold to Christian for £13.18s.0d., yielding a 24% profit.
The commode’s refined design includes rich satinwood veneers with purplewood and tulipwood inlays, a top overhanging slightly to accommodate projecting pilasters, and French feet. The most remarkable decorative elements are the two inlaid ovals on the central doors, depicting a Cumbrian miner and a local girl carrying a “swill” basket—a highly unusual choice in English furniture design, which typically favoured classical or mythological subjects.
Christian, a wealthy landowner with significant mining interests, was known for his progressive political views and advocacy for the working class. A member of the Society of Friends of the People, he likely commissioned these figures as a tribute to the local labour force. The Workington commode is notable not only for its craftsmanship and social symbolism but also because it marks a rare instance where Gillows attempted figural inlay. No other known pieces from the firm during the 18th century include similar motifs.
Christian also commissioned a pair of commodes of this form from the Gillow firm which appear in the Gillow Estimate sketch books for 28 June 1786 and which remain untraced. The pair of commodes were made for his round house ‘Belle Isle’ on Lake Windermere named after his wife, the heiress Isabella Curwen whom he married in 1782. These commodes appear plain in the Gilllow Estimate sketch books but the Gillow historian Ned Pakenham has noted that often, even into the 19th century, Gillows did not always draw detail into their sketches, so handles, marquetry, fluting, reeding and carving will not always be shown or even mentioned in accompanying text in the sketch books but will be there on the executed item
Lot Updates
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Please note - Buyer charges
All lots are subject to 25% Buyer's Premium plus VAT and a 3% online commission charge plus VAT
Auction overview
The auction comprises over 340 lots with an extremely wide, interesting range of collecting categories.
Specialist areas include art reference books and auction catalogues, Georgian, Regency, 19th century and Continental furniture and objects, rugs, runners & carpets, silver, ceramics, glassware, Chinese and Japanese ceramics, objects & metalware, fine art, timepieces, pocket and wristwatches and jewellery.
Property from the collection of Nora Ziegler (1888-1969), the granddaughter of the founder of the eponymous carpet manufacturing company, features in the auction and highlights from this group include: lot 25, is an important George III satinwood, marquetry and tulip banded demi-lune commode attributed to Gillows. It is thought that this piece is a precursor to the Workington commode supplied by Gillows in 1785 to the Curwen family, (est. £2,000-4,000 +fees); lot 46, an early 20th century Ziegler carpet, (est. £2,000-3,000 +fees); lot 93, a Victorian etched and gilded glass ewer, decorated with parrots, butterflies and ferns, (est. £250-350 +fees); lot 125, a matched pair of Victorian cut glass claret jugs, by Elkington & Co., Birmingham, both have hinged lids with lion mask finials holding a shield engraved with a ‘P.Z’ monogram for Philip Ziegler and lot 204, a Victorian burr walnut and floral marquetry kidney-shaped writing desk applied with gilt bronze mounts in the manner of Gillows (est. £500-800 +fees).
From other vendors, lots 205-207, a bureau plat (£3,000-5,000 +fees), pair of side tables (£5,000-7,000 +fees) and a bonheur du jour (est. £2,500-3,500 +fees) are attributed to the renowned maker Donald Ross (1830-1916), and are fashioned in satinwood, purplewood and dot marquetry; Ross’s output is particularly associated with dot marquetry inlay as seen in 18th century French furniture. He sold his furniture through a number of high-profile retailers which flourished in the 19th century.
Lots 224 and 225, a late 19th century French tulipwood parquetry and purplewood cross banded occasional table (est. £4,000-6,000 + fees) and a late 19th century French kingwood and tulipwood parquetry bureau plat (est. £3,000-5,000 +fees) are both attributed to Paul Somani (1817-1877). The Venice-born maker of luxury furniture regularly exhibited at the influential Paris and London exhibitions held in the second half of the 19th century, and here he was the recipient of numerous medals.
From a more recent era, lot 278, is a purple tweed bouclé upholstered swivel armchair (est. £200-300) from the 1960s and lot 285, ‘Postcards from The Boys’, a limited edition book (456/2500) of postcards written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison and sent to Ringo Starr.
The auction concludes with wristwatches and jewellery, lot 290 is a Swiss 925 silver cased Omega 15 jewel T17 manual wind gentlemen's wrist watch, circa 1935, (est. £200-300 +fees) and lot 291, a Patek Philippe 18K gold flared rectangular wristwatch, circa 1950's, ref. 1593 (est. £5,000-7,000 + fees), ref. 1593 is known as the ‘Hour Glass’ and was in production from 1944 to the late 1960s. Lot 310, an Art Deco diamond bracelet wristwatch, circa 1925, combines the practicality of timekeeping with the beauty of decorative diamonds in various cuts, (est. £800-1,200 +fees) - a treat for the wrist.
From the selection of jewellery which includes rings, brooches and earrings, lot 314 is a Victorian 18ct gold oval locket pendant with applied cypher, Birmingham 1873, it has a slightly bombé form and opens to reveal glazed compartments (est. £800-1,200 + fees) and lot 321, a sapphire and diamond ring, the oval faceted sapphire is set in an open set mount (est. £300-500 +fees).
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An important George III satinwood, marquetry and tulipwood banded demi-lune commode attributed to Gillows
The top banded in tulipwood with a chevron marquetry banding and centred by an elliptical panel, above a pair of doors centred by oval panels of marquetry shells on a harewood ground and enclosing a shelf, flanked by bowed end panel doors centred by stylised conch shells on harewood grounds, each enclosing two shelves, on square section tapering cross banded feet, the reverse of the commode constructed of four fielded panels, to be sold together with Nora Zeigler's copy of R.W Symonds, "Masterpieces of English Furniture and Clocks" inscribed to Miss L.N Ziegler132cm wide, 57cm deep, 91.5cm high.
Provenance:
The Ziegler family of Ziegler & Co, Carpet manufacturers and merchants, Manchester
Nora Ziegler (1888-1969) and thence by descent to:
Rupert James Mawson Howe (1911-1971) and thence by descent to the vendor.
The commode offered here is attributed to Gillows on the basis of its similarity in both materials, design and construction to the documented Workington Commode supplied by the firm to John Christian Curwen M.P (1756-1828). Both commodes are veneered in satinwood and banded in purplewood and incorporate similar marquetry shells, while the shell decoration on the commode offered here is more complex, the Workington Commode features highly unusual figurative panels. The commodes both have the same ‘French’ feet, overhanging tops and identical detailed chevron banding. The coloured design for the Workington commode appears in the Gillow Estimate Sketch book for 1788 and is reproduced in L.Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, Hertfordshire 1995, colour plate 12.
Similar shell marquetry in combination with a plain purplewood elliptical panel on the top appears on the satinwood marquetry card table stamped Gillow of Lancaster and London and illustrated in S. Stuart, Gillow of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840, Vol. 2, Suffolk, 2008, pl.GG63, p.393
In 1788, the prominent cabinetmakers Gillows of Lancaster crafted an exceptional satinwood commode for John Christian, M.P., intended for his Dressing Room at Workington Hall, one of his Cumbrian estates. This semi-circular commode exemplifies the firm’s most ambitious work of the period, featuring four doors, inlaid shell motifs, and elaborate marquetry. The piece cost Gillows £11.5s.0d. to produce and was sold to Christian for £13.18s.0d., yielding a 24% profit.
The commode’s refined design includes rich satinwood veneers with purplewood and tulipwood inlays, a top overhanging slightly to accommodate projecting pilasters, and French feet. The most remarkable decorative elements are the two inlaid ovals on the central doors, depicting a Cumbrian miner and a local girl carrying a “swill” basket—a highly unusual choice in English furniture design, which typically favoured classical or mythological subjects.
Christian, a wealthy landowner with significant mining interests, was known for his progressive political views and advocacy for the working class. A member of the Society of Friends of the People, he likely commissioned these figures as a tribute to the local labour force. The Workington commode is notable not only for its craftsmanship and social symbolism but also because it marks a rare instance where Gillows attempted figural inlay. No other known pieces from the firm during the 18th century include similar motifs.
Christian also commissioned a pair of commodes of this form from the Gillow firm which appear in the Gillow Estimate sketch books for 28 June 1786 and which remain untraced. The pair of commodes were made for his round house ‘Belle Isle’ on Lake Windermere named after his wife, the heiress Isabella Curwen whom he married in 1782. These commodes appear plain in the Gilllow Estimate sketch books but the Gillow historian Ned Pakenham has noted that often, even into the 19th century, Gillows did not always draw detail into their sketches, so handles, marquetry, fluting, reeding and carving will not always be shown or even mentioned in accompanying text in the sketch books but will be there on the executed item
Lot Updates
All lots are subject to 25% Buyer's Premium plus VAT
Please note - Buyer charges
All lots are subject to 25% Buyer's Premium plus VAT and a 3% online commission charge plus VAT
Auction overview
The auction comprises over 340 lots with an extremely wide, interesting range of collecting categories.
Specialist areas include art reference books and auction catalogues, Georgian, Regency, 19th century and Continental furniture and objects, rugs, runners & carpets, silver, ceramics, glassware, Chinese and Japanese ceramics, objects & metalware, fine art, timepieces, pocket and wristwatches and jewellery.
Property from the collection of Nora Ziegler (1888-1969), the granddaughter of the founder of the eponymous carpet manufacturing company, features in the auction and highlights from this group include: lot 25, is an important George III satinwood, marquetry and tulip banded demi-lune commode attributed to Gillows. It is thought that this piece is a precursor to the Workington commode supplied by Gillows in 1785 to the Curwen family, (est. £2,000-4,000 +fees); lot 46, an early 20th century Ziegler carpet, (est. £2,000-3,000 +fees); lot 93, a Victorian etched and gilded glass ewer, decorated with parrots, butterflies and ferns, (est. £250-350 +fees); lot 125, a matched pair of Victorian cut glass claret jugs, by Elkington & Co., Birmingham, both have hinged lids with lion mask finials holding a shield engraved with a ‘P.Z’ monogram for Philip Ziegler and lot 204, a Victorian burr walnut and floral marquetry kidney-shaped writing desk applied with gilt bronze mounts in the manner of Gillows (est. £500-800 +fees).
From other vendors, lots 205-207, a bureau plat (£3,000-5,000 +fees), pair of side tables (£5,000-7,000 +fees) and a bonheur du jour (est. £2,500-3,500 +fees) are attributed to the renowned maker Donald Ross (1830-1916), and are fashioned in satinwood, purplewood and dot marquetry; Ross’s output is particularly associated with dot marquetry inlay as seen in 18th century French furniture. He sold his furniture through a number of high-profile retailers which flourished in the 19th century.
Lots 224 and 225, a late 19th century French tulipwood parquetry and purplewood cross banded occasional table (est. £4,000-6,000 + fees) and a late 19th century French kingwood and tulipwood parquetry bureau plat (est. £3,000-5,000 +fees) are both attributed to Paul Somani (1817-1877). The Venice-born maker of luxury furniture regularly exhibited at the influential Paris and London exhibitions held in the second half of the 19th century, and here he was the recipient of numerous medals.
From a more recent era, lot 278, is a purple tweed bouclé upholstered swivel armchair (est. £200-300) from the 1960s and lot 285, ‘Postcards from The Boys’, a limited edition book (456/2500) of postcards written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison and sent to Ringo Starr.
The auction concludes with wristwatches and jewellery, lot 290 is a Swiss 925 silver cased Omega 15 jewel T17 manual wind gentlemen's wrist watch, circa 1935, (est. £200-300 +fees) and lot 291, a Patek Philippe 18K gold flared rectangular wristwatch, circa 1950's, ref. 1593 (est. £5,000-7,000 + fees), ref. 1593 is known as the ‘Hour Glass’ and was in production from 1944 to the late 1960s. Lot 310, an Art Deco diamond bracelet wristwatch, circa 1925, combines the practicality of timekeeping with the beauty of decorative diamonds in various cuts, (est. £800-1,200 +fees) - a treat for the wrist.
From the selection of jewellery which includes rings, brooches and earrings, lot 314 is a Victorian 18ct gold oval locket pendant with applied cypher, Birmingham 1873, it has a slightly bombé form and opens to reveal glazed compartments (est. £800-1,200 + fees) and lot 321, a sapphire and diamond ring, the oval faceted sapphire is set in an open set mount (est. £300-500 +fees).
Catalogue
Tags: Gillows, Gillow, Card Table, Chest of Drawers, Games Table, Shelves, Shelf, Table, Commode, Panel, Furniture Makers, Cabinets & Case Pieces