A Regency mahogany breakfront library bookcase by Gillows

A Regency mahogany breakfront library bookcase by Gillows, the Greek key cornice with scrolled finials above two pairs of later glazed doors enclosing fixed shelves and flanked by reeded tapering columns, the conforming base with two pairs of cupboard doors with looped reeded outlined mouldings enclosing a total of twelve graduated drawers, some inscribed in chalk 'S13237' all fitted with lacquered gilt brass faceted handles, the left hand central cupboard door with a hand written paper label inscribed 'The large Bookcase - was the Property of the Sudell Family of Woodfold Park near Blackburn, and was purchased by J. Whittaker - at The great Sale at Woodfold about 1840. It was I believe made by the famous firm of Gillow of Lancaster (Sheraton period). It came into my possession at the death of my mother Mary H. Whittaker in 1871. Edmund J. Wemyss Whittaker Feb. 8. 1918', 225.3cm high, 233cm wide, 46cm deep.

Provenance: This bookcase was commissioned by Henry Sudell in 1805 for his home Woodfold Hall, Mellor, near Blackburn, Lancashire. Henry Sudell was a cotton merchant and manufacturer and at the peak of his fame was reputed to be a millionaire. He married Maria Livesey in 1796 and they moved into Woodfold Hall designed by James Wyatt and built in 1798. The design for the bookcase appears in the Gillows' Estimate Sketch Books for 12th November 1805 (Westminster City Archives, reference 1776) and the records show that Sudell was charged £33, 6s. 4d., and the work took ten weeks. Henry Sudell encountered financial difficulties in the 1820s due to speculating on the American and Continental markets and in 1827 he filed a petition for bankruptcy. The contents of his estate were offered for sale on the 24th December 1827. By family repute the bookcase was almost certainly bought at the sale by Reverend John William Whittaker, an Anglican clergyman. He was appointed as examining chaplain to Charles Manners-Sutton, Archbishop of Canterbury, who granted him the living of Blackburn, Lancashire in 1822 as the Vicar of St. Mary's. He married Mary Haughton in 1825. It has been passed by descent to the present owner.

For an almost identical bookcase, (without the fitted drawers), see Sotheby's, Important English Furniture, London, 22nd November 2006, lot 119 and a closely related bookcase was sold Bonhams, Fine English Furniture & Works of Art including the Bracewell Collection, 16th July 2008, lot 150