George Faulkner Armitage for Collinson & Lock. A carved rosewood exhibition quality sideboard

George Faulkner Armitage (1849-1937). A carved rosewood exhibition quality sideboard probably for Collinson and Lock, the moulded cornice with a carved half sunflower frieze. A frieze of overlapping quarter sunflowers. A shelf and mirrors, the base with carved drawers. An open base and panelled sides with full sunflower stiles, on block feet. Armitage was commissioned by The Fine Art Society to decorate and design furniture for their showrooms in about 1887. His father William was a cotton manufacturer in Manchester from Altrincham. Armitage became a prolific architect and furniture designer famous in his day. He lived and ran his business from Stamford House. A former ale house. He designed and furnished wealthy properties in London and had his own furniture-making company. He also became a magistrate and was mayor of Altrincham during the whole of the 1914-18 war. 219cm 7'2" high, 198.5cm 6'6" wide, 63cm 25" deep .