A pair of George III mahogany waterfall bookcases, by Gillows, circa 1800

A pair of George III mahogany waterfall bookcases, by Gillows, circa 1800, of slightly varying proportion, each moulded rectangular top above a tapering bank of three shelves, flanked by brass side carrying handles, the lower shelf incorporating two drawers, on squat rectangular tapering legs terminating in brass caps and castors, one drawer of each bookcase stamped 'GILLOWS, LANCASTER', each approximately 112cm high, 72cm wide, 34cm deep

For a Regency pair of waterfall bookcases made by Gillows, see Christie's, London, Important English Furniture and Carpets, 6th July 2000, Lot 84 (£75,250).

For a very closely related design, see Lindsay Boynton, Gillows Furniture Designs 1760-1800, The Bloomfield Press, 1995, figure 162 'Moving library, 1794'.

Condition Report:
Marks, scratches and abrasions comensurate with age and use. Some old chips and splits. There is relatively small variation in the proportions of the bookcases. To list some points of reference to specific size variations, as follows: the width, the top of one is 68.5cm wide, the other 72.5cm wide. At the overall depth of the two bookcases, one is 34.5cm deep, the other is 33.5cm deep overall. The construction and the timber of these bookcases appears to match eachother. This supports the conclusion that the bookcases were made in the same workshop. The metalware also basically matches between the two bookcases , the only comments to mention in this regard are that one handle fixture/ nut is possibly associated. There is some variation between some of the castors upon close inspection. One drawer handle has become mishapen. Please refer to additional images for visual reference to condition.