Happy New Year to all our friends and clients, including those we haven't met yet but will meet for the first time this year. Returning after our festive break we have decided to begin a new series of blog posts this time focusing on specific types of items in our collection. We begin with one of the cornerstones of our business and indeed of the antiques trade in general-seat furniture. As a dealership we seek out the best in design,... read more

One of the most famous names in antique furniture is that of Gillows. The precise date at which the Gillows family began to trade in their own right as cabinetmakers has not been established with complete accuracy but it was around 1730.  The founder of the firm was Robert Gillow (c.1702-1772) completed an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker in Lancaster, becoming free in 1727 or 1728, initially working in partnership with George Haresnape. Gillow was a catholic, as was Haresnape, and... read more

The fascination with Chinoiserie (an umbrella term which covers Chinese and Japanese-influenced pieces) and oriental art in the west can be traced back to the late 15th and 16th centuries when the first examples of pieces made in China began to arrive via the silk road in the courts of Europe. These pieces caused a sensation at the time and were incredibly highly prized, affordable only to Kings, Queens and merchants with the largest fortunes of the period. A Ming dynasty... read more