Description

Attributed to Gillow of Lancaster, famous cabinetmakers. With turned finial upon a circular cuban mahogany moulded top. The urn has twelve stunning flame mahogany panels with boxwood and ebony inlay, equally separating each piece on its elegant tapering body. This sits on a turned cylindrical base and, like the top, is made made from Cuban Mahogany – this all sits on a square plinth which is edged with boxwood. Features a small bone oval escutcheon and is lockable – once unlocked the circular moulded top can be lifted to reveal a divided stepped interior for twelve cutlery pieces.

The Gillow’s Estimate Sketch Book (1787) features a very similar urn which was sold to Sir James Ibbetson, owner of a beautiful country house Denton Hall in North Yorkshire. The Gillow firm was commissioned by Sir James to supply furniture for Denton Hall upon its completion in 1778.
Today, Tatton Park in Cheshire features a wonderful collection of Gillow’s furniture commissioned by its residents the Edgerton family – many pieces can be seen in their original setting.

Richard Gillow, son of founding member Robert Gillow, was recorded as saying knife urns were expensive, difficult ad time-consuming to make – the expense being due to significant wastage of wood in creating the urn shape, hence their rarity and value today.

This stunning cutlery urn comes with a fully working lock a tasselled key.

More information on Knife Boxes can be found on our historypage.

Created By:
GILLOWS OF LANCASTER & LONDON (worked 1730-1903)

Additional information