Regency Period Mahogany & Ebony Line Inlaid Concave Fronted Commode

A rare Regency period mahogany and ebony line inlaid concave fronted commode. This has a drawer above a cupboard and a pull out pot section with the original pot cover and with reeded column turret front corners attached to and supporting the pot section when opened and containing hidden arms. The whole is raised on brass cups and casters and retains the original turned mahogany knobs. This high quality cabinet was almost certainly designed and made by Gillows of Lancaster. Height: 32.5”, 82.5 cms / Width: 25”, 64 cms / Depth: 22.5”, 57 cms Notes: The Hackwood Park Sale by Christie’s, April 1998 shows the bedroom furniture supplied by Gillows to William Powlett, Lord Bolton in 1813. Several pieces have the identical reeding to the tops and legs. This theme of reeding was continued on the corner pilasters of the wardrobes and with the turret or tower corners as shown in lot 364. The quality of timbers, construction and ingenuity of design shown in this commode tally with the rest of the bedroom pieces supplied by Gillows. This strongly suggests that this commode may originally have been at Hackwood though not included in the 1998 sale. Literature: Christie’s Hackwood Park Sale, April 1998, Lots 356-372. Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840 by Susan Stuart, Vol II, Plates 556-558 and 561 for this pattern of “Tower” or “Turret” corners. Lindsay Boynton, “Gillow Furniture Designs, 1760 – 1800”, Plates: 21, 35, 36, 37, 115, 116, 123, 127, & 155 all have distinctive similarities with concave fronts and Tower or Turret corners with reeded columns etc.