A George III mahogany breakfront library bookcase by Gillows Circa 1790-1795 The ogee moulded cornice above four gothic pointed arched astragal glazed panelled doors, enclosing twenty short adjustable shelves, over one long central mahogany lined frieze drawer with a baize inset sliding top, enclosing a central well flanked by six hinged lidded compartments each with four ebonised inlaid alphabetically ordered consecutive letters within a fruitwood oval tablet, above a pair of panelled doors enclosing one adjustable shelf, flanked by two short oak lined drawers, with two panelled doors below enclosing two adjustable shelves, on a plinth base, the central drawer indistinctly stamped: 'GILLOWS.LANCASTER', 253cm wide x 55cm deep x 264cm high, (99 1/2in wide x 21 1/2in deep x 103 1/2in high) Footnotes: Provenance The present lot formerly sold Christie's, London, 21 April 2005, English and Continental Furniture, lot 230. The secretaire drawer to the centre of the present lot opens to reveal a writing slide enclosing six hinged lidded compartments each inlaid with a series of alphabetically ordered first letters. This is a typical feature of a certain proportion of pieces produced by Gillows, particularly during the 1790-1810 period. The distinctive characteristic is perhaps most notably seen to the interior of architects' tables and pedestal desks also made by the firm. The oval patera design handle mounts on the offered bookcase conform to one example, illustrated in close-up, which features in S.E. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840, Vol. II, Pl. D9 (b). This identical model of handle is a detail from a Gillows chest dating to 1785-1800, and it is in this period which the Gillow firm is recorded as making pieces of furniture with such brass attachments. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP TP For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue and/or after-sale information, sent out to all buyers post-sale. For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (The Packengers, Unit 9, Abbey Mead Industrial Park, Brooker Road, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1HU, England, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue and/or after-sale information, sent out to all buyers post-sale. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 10 calendar days from the auction date. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing