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(Above photo -Gillows Sideboard Mahogany Server Regency Furniture 1810)
Gillows furniture is among the most respected names in English cabinetmaking. Pieces made by Gillows of Lancaster and London are highly sought after by collectors because the firm combined exceptional craftsmanship with elegant Regency and early Victorian design. When valuing Gillows antiques, several key factors determine market value.
(Above photo -Pair Regency Hall Chairs Gillows Mahogany 1820)
The most important factor is verifying that the piece was actually made by Gillows.
Authentic examples often carry marks such as:
GILLOW LANCASTER
GILLOWS LANCASTER
GILLOW & CO
Paper labels from the London showroom
These marks are usually stamped on the underside of drawers, chair rails, or table frames. Gillows furniture may also appear in the firm's pattern books and estimate sketches, which historians use to authenticate pieces.
Pieces with clear stamps or documented provenance command significantly higher prices.
(Above photo -William IV Dining Chairs Mahogany Gillows Legs)
Gillows furniture is known for extremely refined construction techniques:
Typical features include:
Hand-cut dovetail joints
Solid mahogany or rosewood construction
Elegant reeded or turned legs
Precision brass hardware
Beautifully figured veneers
Even unstamped pieces can sometimes be attributed to Gillows purely through construction quality and stylistic traits.
(Above photo -Regency Davenport Desk After Gillows Slide Top 1820)
Certain Gillows forms are more valuable than others.
High-value examples include:
Library tables
Writing desks
Dining tables
Campaign furniture
Chairs and sofas
Bookcases
More specialised or unusual forms such as patented Gillows designs or pieces linked to historic country houses can achieve particularly strong prices.
(Above photo -Pair Regency Hall Chairs Shield Back Gillows Mahogany 1815)
Most valuable Gillows furniture dates from:
Late Georgian (1780-1820)
Regency period
Early Victorian (1830-1860)
Later Victorian production can still be desirable but usually commands lower prices than earlier Regency examples.
(Above photo -Antique Gillow Side Cabinet Sideboard - Gillows and Co 1880)
Condition plays a major role in value.
Collectors look for:
Original finish or polish
Original handles and locks
Minimal restoration
No replaced veneers or structural damage
Well-preserved pieces can be worth two to three times more than heavily restored examples.
(Above photo -Mahogany Serving Table Gillows Buffet 1880)
Furniture that can be traced to English country houses or historic estates often commands a premium.
Gillows supplied furniture to many important clients, including aristocratic families and prestigious institutions. Documentation such as old invoices, inventory labels, or auction records can dramatically increase value.
Prices fluctuate depending on collecting trends.
Typical auction values might be:
Gillows chairs: B#300 B#1,500 each
Gillows desks or library tables: B#2,000 B#12,000+
Large dining tables: B#5,000 B#20,000+
Exceptional documented pieces: B#30,000+
Retail prices in specialist antique shops are usually higher.
Valuers often check sales at major auction houses such as:
Christie's
Sotheby's
Bonhams
These results provide the best benchmark for current market values.
Because Gillows pieces were widely copied, professional assessment is sometimes required. Experienced dealers and furniture historians can identify subtle design and construction clues that distinguish genuine Gillows work.
For example, Gillows chairs often have a distinctive seat rail construction and elegant leg proportions that differ from other cabinetmakers.
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