This table bears a close ressemblance to a seven pedestal table stamped 'GILLOWS' which was sold Sotheby's New York, 24 October 1992, lot 245. Another table of this model with five pedestals was sold anonymously at Christie's New York, 29 January 1994, lot 372. Gillows was a prolific firm founded by Robert Gillow, who became a freeman in 1728. The firm opened a branch in London from 1769 and remained under family supervision until the early 19th century though it still continues to make furniture today. Clarke, in his 'Historical and Descriptive Account Lancaster of (1807)', writes: 'the town has long been famous for the great quantities of mahogany furniture which have been made in it for home-use and exportation...they are said to be the best stocked of any in this line out of the metropolis' (G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds., Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660 -1840, 1986, pp. 341-343). Extensive private archives of the firm covering the years 1784-1905, the so-called Estimate Sketch Books, record over twenty thousand pieces of furniture which provides details on labor and material costs. A design for a similar six-pedestal table inscribed to 'Lady Blount' and dated August 1798, reproduced here, is illustrated in L. Boynton, ed., Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, 1995, no. 55. This pattern was probably a continuation of a model that would have been used by the firm from the middle of the eighteenth century.