A George III mahogany armchair circa 1780, possibly by Gillows

the pierced shield back splat carved at the top with a wheatsheaf motif, the back carved with  paterae and a leaf motif, the moulded arms on scroll supports, on square tapering moulded legs and spade feet

The present lot contains elements from a series of design drawings from Gillows' Estimate Sketch Books, illustrated in L. Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, pl.272-275, which suggest that it may have been made by that firm.  

A chair from a  suite of almost identical design, formerly in the collection of the Harvey family at Ickwell Bury, Bedfordshire is illustrated in Christopher Claxton Stevens and Stewart Whittington, 18th Century English Furniture, The Norman Adams Collection, London, 1983, p.82.  The Harvey suite is known to have been stamped `RE' .  One possible explanation for the stamp – which provides a further link with Gillow – has been suggested by Christopher Claxton Stevens:  it may refer to Richard and Robert Edmunson or Edmonson.  Edmonson's was a Liverpool cabinet making firm which started in 1781. Richard and Robert are both recorded as freemen of Lancaster and are known to have worked for Gillows on a number of occasions.

For further information see C. Claxton Stevens, `A group of Seat Furniture stamped RE', The Journal of the Regional Furniture Society, Vol. XII, 1998, pp.156-159.