Gothic Revival Furniture & selected pieces by Bruce Talbert
Bruce James Talbert originally trained as a carver then an architect, he became an influential and very successful furniture designer. He served an apprenticeship in Dundee and had his own carving business for two years where he learnt the skills to apply carved details to furniture and then joined the architectural offices of Charles Edward. In 1856 he moved to Glasgow, and worked for the architects W. N. Tait and Campbell Douglas. He moved to Manchester in the early 1860s, where he gained employment with the cabinetmakers Doveston, Bird and Hull, which was short lived, then moving to to Coventry gaining work with Skidmore’s Art Manufactures. In 1863 he won the competition to design the masthead for ‘The Building News’ and in the mid 1860s moved to London, where he started designing furniture for Holland and Sons. His ‘Pericles’ Gothic sideboard was displayed on their stand at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867 where it was Grand Prix winner. It was at this point that his most prolific period began and also when he started designing furniture for Gillows of Lancaster from 1868. in the same year he published his very influential first book ‘Gothic Forms Applied to Furniture, Metal Work and Decoration for Domestic Purposes’, which he dedicated to George Edmund Street. This was followed in 1876 by ‘Examples of Ancient and Modern Furniture, Metalwork, Tapestries and Modern Furniture’ and in 1881 by ‘Fashionable Furniture’. Other companies he designed for were Marsh, Jones and Cribb, Jackson and Graham and, for a short time, was a partner with Daniel Cottier. He designed textiles for Templeton’s, Warner’s, Cowlishaw and Barbour and Miller; carpet designs for Templeton’s and Brinton & Co.; and his wallpaper designs were printed by Jeffrey and Co. He also designed church metalwork and furniture for Cox and Sons, cast iron for the Colebrookdale Co., Nichol and Co, Barbone and Miller and Cowlishaw. In 1869 Talbert returned to London working as prolific and successful freelance commercial designer and decorator.

GO 8
A good quality early Gothic Revival Oak 2 drawer writing table designed by Bruce Talbert & made by Gillows Of Lancaster with red leather writing area & 8 differering carved florets to each side at each top corner of the square & ring turned legs united by a classic H stretcher on turned feet.
Height 60", Width 41", Depth 13 1/2". Circa 1870's.
£POA.
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GO 9
An exceptional exhibition quality Gothic Revival oak corner cupboard designed by Bruce Talbert & almost certainly made by Gillows of Lancaster. The style of this piece is more refined & quite early on in his career & quite unlike his heavier more common pieces. The upper section with a turned gallery with a small corner shelf with turned supports from an open display area below & tramline details to the back & sides with a type of castellated dentil moulding below which is identical to his famous Pet sideboard made by Gillows & exhibited in the 1872 London International Exhibition. It is also has identical moulding to his famous 'The Pericles sideboard' exhibited at the 1867 Paris Exhibition where it was a Grand Prix winner & this was made by Holland & Sons. 'The Pericles sideboard' was described by The Art Journal as "certainly the most distinguished amongst competing Gothic works". Both these sideboards are shown in the last 4 images.
There is a bevelled glazed door to the upper section with superior quality handle & hinges opening to reveal an adjustable shelf & small open area to the front flanked by 2 small turned galleries with fine nipple points & another full open shelf below with turn supports & panelling to the back.
The central bow fronted cupboard with a sculptured dentil detail & curved doors below set slightly forward with different circular stylised carved floret's to each door typical to Talberts work & conforming handle & hinges & a turned gallery below. There is a wonderful carved detail adjacent to the door hinges which feathers down to a tramline then the sweetest little carved detail just above the ring turnings at the top of each leg. The turned legs adjacent to square legs with conforming tramline details making this a multi leg corner cabinet, a wonderful design detail, the four front legs & rear leg uniting the shaped lower shelf with line detail to the front edge.
Height 181cm , Width 73cm, Depth 55cm. Circa late 1860's early 1870's.
£SOLD.
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GO 10 - Bruce Talbert (1838-1881), an important Reformed Gothic brass triform mantel timepiece, the movement stamped ‘UAP Brevete SGDG’, with inscriptions that read :-
The Web thou Weavest Everyday I Meander Off & Fold Away.
Jesus Christ The Fame Yesterday, Today & Forever.
W & G C T BROADLANDS JULY 26th 1875.
Broadlands is a very important house near Romsey in Hampshire then the home of the Temple family whose most famous member is Henry John Temple, third Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865), who was prime minister between 1855-8 and 1859-65. At the time this clock was commissioned (1875) Broadlands was owned by William Francis Cowper-Temple, Baron Mount-Temple (1811-1888) who inherited it from his mother in 1869 and she from Lord Palmerston, the prime minister, at his death 1865. After William's death in 1888 the house remained in the family for a short period with his wife, Georgina Cowper Temple, Lady Mount-Temple (1821?-1901). The initials on the clock (W & G C. T. BROADLANDS JULY 26th 1875) without doubt stands for William & Georgina Cowper Temple. William Francis Cowper, 1st and last Lord Mount Temple was the son of Peter Leopold Louis Francis Nassau Cowper, 5th Earl Cowper. He was born on 13 December 1811. He married Harriet Alicia Gurney, daughter of Daniel Gurney, on 27 June 1843. He married Georgiana Tollemache, daughter of Admiral John Richard Delap Tollemache and Lady Elizabeth Stratford, on 21 November 1848. He died on 17 October 1888 at age 76. Height 9" 23cm, Width 8" 21.5, Depth 2". £POA.
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GO 11 - A rare Gothic Revival Walnut & Amboyna Bedroom suite designed by Bruce Talbert & made by Gillows of Lancaster consisting of a treble wardrobe, 2 x 3'6" double beds & 2 x matching bedside cupboards. The treble wardrobe with full length bevelled mirror to the centre door with central carved rosette to the top flanked by 2 carved panels depicting 16 carved floret's with further carved rosettes to the side doors & to the lower parts each carved with a different floret on Ebonised & Gilt backgrounds, the central panels of Amboyna framed with ebonised strips & further smaller rosettes to each corner, the front sides with further floret's & carved tramline details, the cornice with dental moulding & all on Egyptian revival feet, the doors opening to reveal hanging space to the left hand side, Linen slides to the upper double right hand side (not shown but all original & all there) & drawers below. The beds & bedside cabinets with conforming identical details.
corresponds exactly to ones made by Gillow for the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras. See Arts & Crafts Furniture by John Andrews Printed by The Antique Collectors Club ISBN 1-85149-483-9 page 37 for a comparable sideboard.
Wardrobe Height 82 1/2" 208cm, Width of cornice 81 1/2" 208cm, Depth of cornice 24", Beds Height of head board 51", Height of foot board 32", Width 41" 124cm, Bedside cupboards Height 35" 85cm, Width 15" 35cm, Depth 15" 35cm. Circa 1880's. £POA.
I'm sure you know this already, but you don't mention it in the description so I thought I'd just say that your bedroom suite (or certainly its wardrobe) corresponds exactly to ones made by Gillow for the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras. There was an article on the subject in The Magazine Antiques a few years ago.
Thanks for this info from Nicholas Williams





GO 12
Bruce Talbert. A fine Gothic Revival 1/4 sawn oak bookcase designed by Bruce Talbert & made by Gillows of Lancaster with a fantastic row of carved leaves & 7 differing carved florets flanked by 2 pineapple & leaf style uprights with carved florets in a lozenge just below all precisely & beautifully carved by a master carver. The work area with full length Acanthus leaf carving to the edges & deep shelf below flanked by turned & arched details to each side with 2 further shelves below & a wonderful protrusion to the foot incorporating thought for stability & 45 degree chamfering with birds beak end details throughout.
£POA.
Circa 1870.

Height 60" 154cm, Width 41" 105cm, Depth 13 1/2" 34cm.
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GO 13
A Gothic Revival Oak sideboard designed by Bruce Talbert & made by Garnetts of Newcastle with central carved roundel with a Garden Warbler chirping amongst a hedgerow flanked by 2 narrow oblong bevelled mirrors with dentil & tramline mouldings above flanked by feather carved details to each top corner. A full length narrow upper plate shelf with vertical slats below flanked by 45 degree slats & open serving area with large central drawer & half florettes carved to the lower part flanked by 2 cupboards with twin carved floretts to the top & opposing chevron slats below with birds beak & tramline details. Circa 1880. £POA.
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GO 14
A quality Gothic Revival oak side table attributed to Bruce Talbert & made by Garnetts of Newcastle with a single drawer with a refined little gilt brass handle, half moon supports which are internally shaped, with a moulded cross stretcher, stamped Garnetts to the drawer top. Height 28" 71cm, Depth 21 1/2 56cm" x Width 22" 55cm. Circa 1880. £POA.
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GO 15
A top quality Gothic Revival oak cabinet designed by Bruce Talbert & probably made by Gillows Of Lancaster with a small moulded back flanked by small uprights with tiny half moon carved florettes & an open area to the top, 6 carved florettes all different to each other to the front & the sides a solid oak drop down door & a lower glazed door opening to reveal 3 shelves. The lower carved frieze with stylised detailing conforming to the front & the sides the whole on turned feet in wonderful original condition. Circa 1880. Height 43" 56cm, Width 26" 45.5m, Depth 17 1/2". £POA.
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GO 16
A Gothic Revival Oak barometer with snail tail thermometer attributed to Bruce Talbert. Height 50", Width 14 1/4", Depth 3 1/2" to the bezel .Circa 1880's. £POA.
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GO 17
A Gothic Revival oak wash stand designed by Bruce Talbert of superior quality & made by Gillows of Lancaster, the back has 6 fielded panels with a central shelf with shaped supports & 4 carved florets & turned finials to the very top surmounted with carved floret's & tramline details to the front & sides with a pure white tiled area below & moulded edges, below this there are elongated carved stylised floral details to each corner all differing slightly & all united by horizontal tramline moulding, the 4 legs with spiral turned details to the centre united by 3 stretchers with tramline details & wonderful carved florets on each visual facet each differing slightly with birds beak end detail above & below them, the lower legs each with conforming spiral details below the stretchers & inset 'invisible castors in wonderful original condition. A pure design. There are 14 differing floret's & 6 elongated stylised floral details altogether on this wonderful piece. Circa 1880's. £POA.
(I have taken all the images from the left hand side to the front, the front & to the right hand side then going to the back).
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GO 18 - An Aesthetic Movement 3 fold screen attributed to Bruce Talbert probably for Gillows with decorative carved detail's to the serpentine top, carved tramline detail around each panel & 6 carved florets to the bottom of each side, tremendous hand embroided panels of birds flying & also perched on a tree in blossom. Height 58 1/2" Width fully open 70". Circa 1880. £POA.
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GO 19
A monumental Gothic revival Oak sideboard with superb stylised floral carvings throughout, the top with central arched & carved pediment surmounted by ebonised turned gallery & turned finials at each side with large mirror below flanked by smaller conforming mirrors & upper conforming turnings divided by twin shelves with turned & ebonised supports & arched ends with zig zag details & the large serving area flanked with further ebonised turned galleries, one large centre drawer flanked by two smaller drawers with carved stylised crosses & brass drop handles, the centre double cupboard flanked by two further cupboards all with conforming stylised floral carved details inside 45 degree angles with tramline details & further carved details & stylised crosses to each corner, each cupboard is separated by shaped supports with feather carved details following down to protruding feet. Circa 1875. Height ", Depth, "Width ". Priced at £4995.
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GO 20
A rare Gothic Revival corner bookcase attributed to Lambs of Manchester in the manner of J.P.Seddon with dotted zig-zag inlay to the top & stylised foral details in a square at each end 2 pairs of glazed doors carved with 'Birds Beak End' details & ebony dot inlays opening to reveal adjustable shelves flanked by decorative pillars with carved floral details & inlaid with ebony dots. Circa 1900. Height 51 1/2", Length from corner to right hand end 58 1/4", Length from corner to left hand end 75 1/4", Depth 16 1/2". £POA.
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GO 21
A Gothic revival Walnut port folio stand, with unusual upper sliding section to hold a separate picture for one's perusal or display. C1880's. Height 42", Width 31", Depth at the feet 20". £POA.

GO 23
A top quality Oak Gothic Revival wash stand with trefoil detail to the swivel mirror top flanked by pierced ears. an open area below the mirror with drawer below & further open area below & cupboard below that all on shaped stile feet. Height 66", Width 21", Depth 15 1/2". Circa 1900. £POA.
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GO 24
A good Reformed Gothic revival Oak hallstand/seat in the style of Dr C. Dresser, with incised & ebony styliesd inlays & further chevron inlays with central arched mirror & lift up seat. Circa 1875. Priced at £2450.
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GO 25
A Gothic revival Oak sideboard/buffet made by Edwards & Roberts with carved leaves to each top corner & trefoil details to the back & wonderful stylised floral carved details at 45 degree angles & quatrefoils to each corner, 1 large centre drawer flanked by 2 smaller drawers all with carved ribbon details & a pair of cupboards below with further quatrefoil carved details to the centres with a shield the left hand side opening to reveal drawers & the right hand side opening to reveal a zinc lined drawer for storing wine quality oozes throughout this magnificent work of Art as one would expect from a superior company. Edwards & Roberts stamped to centre drawer. Circa 1875. Height 5' 9", Depth 27", Width 6' 7". Priced at £2995.
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GO 26
A Gothic Revival oak buffet with stylised floral carving to the top & the lower 3 cupboard doors with turned supports & turned feet on original castors. C1870. Height 50", Width 48", Depth 19". £995.

GO 27
A top quality Gothic Revival side or bedside cabinet with carved quartfoil details to the top flanked by carved uprights & dentil carved details around the table top & carved linenfold detail to the door with wonderful quality & stylised brass strap hinges & handle with such subtle detailing. Height 34", Height to table top 26 1/2", Depth 19", Width 19 1/2". Circa 1870's. £POA.

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GO 28
Oak Gothic revival small bookcase Circa 1885. Priced at £295.
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GO - An extremely rare stunning Gothic Revival revolving bookcase designed for The Tabard Inn by Richard Norman Shaw. Height 76", Width 26 1/2", Depth 26 1/2". Circa . £SOLD.



GO - A monumental stunning Gothic Revival Oak breakfront bookcase attributed to E.W. Pugin & possibly from Scarisbrick Hall in Lancashire of superior quality with wonderful proportions, an amazing work of Art, a real hybrid in the true Gothic Revival taste & certainly a commissioned piece. The cornice with castellated mouldings & 3 glazed upper sections each with twin doors with stylised iron strap hinges & castellated iron handles with drop down ring pulls, the doors double pegged at each corner joint & when opened the inner door has a female groove all round with a male bead protruding from the carcass which when the doors are closed fits snugly into each other a quality detail to protect important books from air & atmosphere shown in the 2nd from last image, with 4 original adjustable shelves (not shown) per section all with Gilt leather dust flaps. The 3 section cupboards below with stylised linen fold carved details to each door (an almost identical detail used in The New Palace of Westminster) with corresponding metalwork & graduated flaring base. The side Linenfold carved panels to the lower ends are different to the fronts. This bookcase was designed to hold important books & I purchased it from the North of England from a dealer who had purchased around 20 years ago in Liverpool from a sale of furniture believed to have come from Scarisbrick Hall. Circa early 1870's. Height 8' 8", Length 12' 6", the top depth in the centre section is 14 1/2" & 11" deep to each side section. The base depth is 18 1/2" to the centre section & 15" deep to each side section. £SOLD.
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GO - An important Gothic Revival oak treble wardrobe of superior quality designed by Pugin & probably made by Crace with castelated cornice with elongated sides with seed pod carving & further carved rossettes to the linen fold carved door panels with fantastic brass handles & hinges the doors opening to reveal hanging space to the left hand side & a storage box with lift up lid below & to the middle & right hand side is 2 over 2 drawers & 3 open linen drawers to the upper section. Height 91", Width 62", Depth 22". Circa 1880's. £SOLD.
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GO - A Gothic Revival 2 drawer leather writing table after a design by A.W.N.Pugin & probably made by Gillows, this desk is consistant with furniture he designed for the Houses of Parliament & the New Palace of Westminster, exposed through pegged joints, crisply carved oak leaves entwinded in linenfold scroll with further rose florettes, gilt brass handles & escutions, inset brass castors. A well balanced functional piece. Circa 1860's. Height 30", Width 4', Depth 24". £SOLD.
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GO - A.W.N.Pugin. An outstanding oak centre table designed by Augustus Welby Pugin & almost certainly made by firm John Gregory Crace. Height 30 1/2", Width 52", Depth 52". Circa 1847. £SOLD.
See The Pictorial Dictionary of British 19th Century Furniture Design, page xxvi for an identicle but carved version designed by Pugin for Abney Hall which is now in The Victoria & Albert Museum. Last 2 Images.
Provenance: Another similar table with drawers but the identicle base was sold at Bonhams Chester & also formerly at Abney Hall, Cheadle, Cheshire. Under the patronage of Sir James Watts, a textile wholesaler and Lord Mayor of Manchester, Abney Hall was remodelled as a private home with reception rooms designed & decorated by Pugin & Crace in the 1850's. The decorative scheme was completed in 1857. Prince Albert during a visit to Manchester described the hall as 'a most princely mansion'. Abney hosted many other important people including Edward VII, Disraeli, Gladstone & E.M Forster. The reclusive Agatha Christie visited Abney when it was in the possession of her brother-in-law & wrote two novels there, 'The Tale of the Christmas pudding & After the Funeral'. The hall became known Cheadle Town Hall when it was sold to the local council in 1959. This uncarved version without drawers is actually more true to Pugins later designs which were simpler & less elaborate & in those respects more important because of the purity within Pugins designs in his later years before he became insane & died at only 40 years of age in 1852.
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GO- A top quality Gothic Revival oak library table with an oblong top with the base in the shape of a cross, trefoil cut-outs to the 4 upper arched supports & a lower cross stretcher with wondefrful carved florets to each point with conforming base & the whole with chamfered & birds beak end details. Height 29 1/2", Width 42", Depth 25 1/2". Circa 1870. £SOLD.
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GO - A stunning Gothic Revival planter in the manner of J.P.Seddon with 18 Minton tiles designed by Pugin with central block detail to each end & shaped supports above with arched supports to the base united by a high central stretcher with through pegged joints & inlaid dot details to the central roset. Height ", Width ", Depth ". Circa 1870. £SOLD.
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GO - A pair of almost identical Gothic Revival side table attributed to John Henry Chamberlain & made by Pluknett & Steevens who later became Collier & Pluknett & they were still producing this table design as I have had one with a Collier & Pluknett label on so this is a very early one & the best looking sidetable that they produced with wonderful proportions & when one stands a little away from it, it has a stunning look with that superbly muscular Gothic Revival undercarriage with all the refinement of a wonderful design. Collier & Pluknett were a very high end company who had premises in Warick & they produced some amazing Gothic Revival pieces & many exhibition pieces always of a superior quality. coincidently the young Ambrose Heal served his apprenticeship with them from 1890 to 1893 just before he started designing for Heals. Height 27", Width 24", Depth 24". Circa 1880. £SOLD.
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GO - A superb quality & very rare pair of 3' Gothic Revival beds designed by Charles Bevan & made by Gillows of Lancaster. Fabulous. £SOLD.
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GO - A well designed architectual oak Gothic Revival side table attributed to Charles Bevan, superior quality throughout with ebonised circular decoration througout. Circa 1880. Height 37", Width 51 1/2", Depth 21". £SOLD.
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GO - A well designed architectural oak Gothic Revival dining/library table in the style of John Pollard Seddon. Circa 1880. Height 33", Width 32 1/2", Length 54". £SOLD.
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GO
A set of 3 oak Gothic Revival desk top bookslides with quatrefoil carved details to each end & each one slides to accept more or less books. Circa 1860's. Length closed 21", Length fully extended 33" Depth 8", Height 8". £SOLD.
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