Rare 19th century GILLOWS Satinwood Games / Sewing / Writing Table

A quite exquisite and very rare 19th century Games / Sewing / Writing Table with beautifully inlaid wooden Chess / Draughts and Backgammon boards, plus central drawer which contains a ratcheted Writing Slope with smaller drawers to each side one with pen and ink well sections, the other vacant for other utensils.

Underneath, there is a further pull out silk-drawer with a decorative green silk-pleated exterior, gold piping and a central rosette to both front and back. The interior silk / wool store is a deep U-shape lined and solid.

The plain satinwood lid/top slides out and reverses to reveal the beautifully inlaid wooden chess board on the underside of the lid. An equally fine inlaid wooden Backgammon board can be found in the sunken space (c.3 inches deep) beneath. Wooden backgammon boards of this quality in such tables are very rare, they were usually made of leather, which of course dried out and deteriorated over time. The back of the table features dummy drawer fronts with identical knobs to those on the front, so as to make it visually identical from both front and back.

This table is of the quality and displays many of the iconic features to conclude that it was almost certainly made by the famous cabinet-maker Gillows of Lancaster. It is however unstamped. I cannot over-emphasise the quality of the workmanship and materials used. This is a stunning table and in exceptional condition.

The top section is supported on a finely carved satinwood frame, comprising two scrolled legs to each side, with a carved X-stretcher for strength. The legs terminate in four finely carved scroll-feet with original brass castors under.

Dimensions:  Width: 31 inches. Depth: 18 inches. Height: 28.75 inches (79 x 46 x 73cm)

Date: 1835-50.