A superb early Regency period library bergère armchair in mahogany, attributed to Gillows of Lancaster and London

English, c. 1810

The curved blind-caned back within a moulded frame and reeded scrolled blind-caned arms, above a rectangular caned seat, with squab cushion and panelled seatrails, raised on turned reeded tapering legs headed by Grecian paterae and terminating in original brass capped castors.

This rare and sophisticated model of the generously proportioned classic Gillow bergere features the shaped caned panel back, rather than the straight back, along with the tableted seat rails and typical Gillow reeded leg. Made of fine quality mahogany throughout, which has patinated to a pleasing warm colour. The traditionally upholstered, horsehair-stuffed squab cushions can be recovered to buyer's taste.

Other comparable examples attributed to Gillows include those supplied to Sir Roger Newdigate 5th Bt. (1719-1806) for either Arbury Hall or Harefield Place, Warwickshire (sold Christie's London, 14 June 2001, lot 103). Another pair thought to have been supplied to Morton John Davidson (1778-1841 for Beamish Park, Co.Durham (sold Christie's, London, 21 September 1995, lot 140) form part of large commission likely to have been supplied by the Gillow firm in 1812. A pair of nearly identical bergeres from Scawby Hall were sold by Sotheby's, 11 April 2002, lot 96 (£47,000).

Similar bergeres appear in Gillow & Co.'s designs for complete room settings, see S.Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, Suffolk, 2008, Vol.II, p.357, pl. E20.