Antique furniture by the cabinet makers Wilkinson & Son is usually a sign of quality. Wilkinson & Son was first established by Joshua Wilkinson as cabinet makers, upholsters, carpet sellers and a looking glass warehouse, in 1766 in 7 Broker’s Row, Moorfields in the City of London. Joshua Wilkinson died in 1790 and by this time his son William Wilkinson and cousin, Thomas Wilkinson, were in partnership running the company. They became specialists in extending tables, breakfast tables and Card Tables. The partnership of William and Thomas Wilkinson ended in 1808 when William set up on his own at an old established firm of Quentin Kaye at 14 Ludgate Hill and Thomas continued at 10 Broker’s Row until 1828.
William Wilkinson was very successful going forward with his business. Some of his first furniture was stamped `WILKINSON LUDGATE HILL’. In 1825 William brought his three sons William, Ayscough and Charles into the partnership and after this date furniture was stamped `WILKINSON & SONS 14 LUDGATE HILL’. William Wilkinson died in 1833 and after this date his sons changed the furniture mark to W & C WILKINSON 14 LUDGATE HILL. After William’s death his widow sold her share to his brother Charles who then moved the business to 8 Bond Street, London in 1855. Most stamped furniture from this period onwards would be stamped Wilkinson & Son 8 Old Bond Street. In 1871 the business was passed to Charles eldest son, Frederick. The building 8 Bond Street, was demolished in 1909 and the company was re-named Hindley & Wilkinson. They moved to 70/71 Welbeck Street, London. They were eventually absorbed by Marshall & Snellgrove in about 1918.
Wilkinson & Son were renowned for quality, fine quality cabinet making and beautiful inlay with gilt decoration. Occasionally we get some beautiful examples for sale by Wilkinson & Son like this Quality Victorian Antique Credenza
Stamped By The Renowned Makers W&C Wilkinson, 14 Ludgate Hill, This Spectacular Figured Mahogany Victorian Antique Chest Of Drawers is mahogany lined drawers with the original turned handles.
46 Comments. Leave new
I have a question. I have a stamped, Wilkinson & Son, Bond St, full length mirror that came from a family estate. Mercury has been removed from it. It has one candle holder but is missing the other. Any idea what it may be worth? Wood is in excellent condition and the mirror I believe has been replaced due to the mercury. Thank you.
Hi
Its a shame the mirror has been replaced and the candle holder is missing as it probably was a really nice piece being by Wilkinson & son. with this in mind it may only be a £200 – £300 piece but it is always difficult to say without seeing it in the flesh and it is better to get an accurate valuation by someone viewing it
Kind regards
James
Hi
I have come across a cylinder commode stool
It has stamped wilkinson & son 8old bond street and 5445
Was wondering if you had any idea of price as I can’t seem to come up with anything
Many thanks mark
Hi
Its difficult to say without seeing them in the flesh, if you like you can email me a picture and I can see if this is something that would be of interest to us
Kind regards
James
I see that a number is given, we have an octagonal table numbered 17421, can a date be given for this?
Hi
Unfortunately you can not tell the date from a reg number
Thanks
James
Hi,
Thank you very much for posting this most informative article concerning the Wilkinson family of cabinet makers. I’m fortunate to possess a fine 19th century mahogany server (or “moving sideboard” according to Thomas King’s “Modern Style of Cabinet Work Exemplified” of 1829), stamped “W & C Wilkinson 14 Ludgate Hill.” It was originally purchased by my maternal grandmother in Montreal, Canada, in the early 1960s and it has now come down to me. I have no idea what she paid for it, but I’m certain it wasn’t expensive at the time.
She was always aware of the stamp (in two places), but had no idea as to the importance of the Wilkinson family. I’m a serious antique collector myself and while the piece is perhaps a little late for my Georgian tastes, I’m still very fond of it. I always felt it might date c.1825, but from the information you provided, it would appear to date slightly later, maybe c. 1835-40, No matter, it has a wonderful colour and patina (well cared for by me!) and does not have the heavy lines we associate with much of the furniture from the mid- to late- Victorian period.
Just out of curiosity, I did a Google map search of “14 Ludgate Hill” and found that it looks nothing at all as it would have appeared in the early 19th century! As far as I could determine, it is not far from St.Paul’s Cathedral , but I may be incorrect.
Many thanks again for shedding some light on this interesting aspect of English cabinet- making.
Kind regards,
Richard
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hi
Your cabinet sounds lovely and will certainly be of good quality. Yes, I think Ludgate hill is near to St.Paul’s Cathedral but i am sure it has drastically changed after world war 2 and with newer building being built around this area over the last century. I hope you keep on enjoying your lovely pieces, like you I am a big fan of simple Georgian pieces but I can really appreciate quality and i do have a few select pieces later in date but of high quality.
Many thanks
James
HI James,
Many thanks for your response. Maybe I was incorrect in referring to my piece as a “server.” I see you are offering a Victorian one for sale and that you refer to it as a “buffet” – with the three wide shelves.
I wasn’t sure what to call it – an “etagere” is something else altogether, a smaller piece and if I’m not mistaken, taller in height.
Thank you again.
Regards,
Richard
Dear James, I have a lovely leather topped desk in what could be walnut, or someone once said they thought was Australian oak. It has four drawers on either side with wooden handles. The top right drawer says Wilkinson and son 8 old bond street. It is slightly damaged in 2 places. I now have no room for it and don t know what it is worth and how best to sell it. I lived your article with the history of the firm.
Regards
Hi Thank you for your message, are you local to us as we can gladly have a look at it for you. Alternatively for advice and valuations of antiques
Please see
http://www.valuemystuff.com/us/how-it-works?affiliate=antiquesworld
Kind regards
James
I have a piece of furniture stamped with R or A Ludgate. The drawers are stamped with a T on one end of the drawer and Vl on the other end.. can you help me out in identifying the maker??
Hi
I think this is probably Wilkinson & Sons. The other letters could be the cabinet makers initials?
Kind regards
James
Hello – I have a brass inlay rosewood cabinet stamped Wilkinson Ludgate Hill, inventory6392.L. It is
6 feet two with two columns, yellow and grey scagliola top. The inlay is very elegant and
is on the three doors and two drawers, all recently perfectly restored. Is it possible to
come up with an accurate market value for a piece like this? Price on the web seem all over
the map. Thanks for your advice. David
p.s. columns are scagliola with very fine brass mounts
Hi
Unfortunately it would be too difficult to say without seeing it in the flesh. If you are too far away from us, I would recommend a very good auctioneer as it sounds like a lovely piece
Thanks
James
Good evening. I have come across a 2 drawer desk with an inlayed top stamp with W &C Wilkinson 14 ludget Hill 19416. I live just outside South London and wondered if it’s worth anything to someone who collects and likes old furniture? I would be pleased to hear from you. Regards Peter.
Hi
If you would like to email me pictures and I can see if it is of interest to us
Thanks
James
The V&A website (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/2dadd407-d4ca-431a-a882-5fc6eab76d13) says Hindley & Wilkinson were absorbed into Marshall and Snellgrove in 1916 and that it holds a history of the firm written in 1922.
Good afternoon,
My parents did live near London and I inherited a bridgetable.
It has the stamp of Wilkinson&Sons 14 Ludgate Hill and has a number 4901.
Can someone tell me what the worth of this bridgetable is. I have to sell it off because I’m moving and have no room for it anymore.
Kind regards
Wilma
Hi
Please send us a picture and I will see if it is of interest to us to buy
Kind regards
James
I’m not sure if my set of four chairs are gillows or possibly Wilkinson could you help, they have had the brackets removed and screw corner blocks fitted at some stage. I think they are around 1820-30
Hi
are they stamped on the chairs?
I have a piece of furniture stamped with R or A Ludgate. The drawers are stamped with a T on one end of the drawer and Vl on the other end.. can you help me out in identifying the maker??
Hi
I think this is probably Wilkinson & Sons. The other letters could be the cabinet makers initials?
Kind regards
James
Hi
I have come across a cylinder commode stool
It has stamped wilkinson & son 8old bond street and 5445
Was wondering if you had any idea of price as I can’t seem to come up with anything
Many thanks mark
I see that a number is given, we have an octagonal table numbered 17421, can a date be given for this?
Hi
Unfortunately you can not tell the date from a reg number
Thanks
James
Hi
Its difficult to say without seeing them in the flesh, if you like you can email me a picture and I can see if this is something that would be of interest to us
Kind regards
James
I have a question. I have a stamped, Wilkinson & Son, Bond St, full length mirror that came from a family estate. Mercury has been removed from it. It has one candle holder but is missing the other. Any idea what it may be worth? Wood is in excellent condition and the mirror I believe has been replaced due to the mercury. Thank you.
Hi
Its a shame the mirror has been replaced and the candle holder is missing as it probably was a really nice piece being by Wilkinson & son. with this in mind it may only be a £200 – £300 piece but it is always difficult to say without seeing it in the flesh and it is better to get an accurate valuation by someone viewing it
Kind regards
James
Dear James, I have a lovely leather topped desk in what could be walnut, or someone once said they thought was Australian oak. It has four drawers on either side with wooden handles. The top right drawer says Wilkinson and son 8 old bond street. It is slightly damaged in 2 places. I now have no room for it and don t know what it is worth and how best to sell it. I lived your article with the history of the firm.
Regards
Hi Thank you for your message, are you local to us as we can gladly have a look at it for you. Alternatively for advice and valuations of antiques
Please see
https://antiquesworld.co.uk/valuing-antiques/
Kind regards
James
Hi,
Thank you very much for posting this most informative article concerning the Wilkinson family of cabinet makers. I’m fortunate to possess a fine 19th century mahogany server (or “moving sideboard” according to Thomas King’s “Modern Style of Cabinet Work Exemplified” of 1829), stamped “W & C Wilkinson 14 Ludgate Hill.” It was originally purchased by my maternal grandmother in Montreal, Canada, in the early 1960s and it has now come down to me. I have no idea what she paid for it, but I’m certain it wasn’t expensive at the time.
She was always aware of the stamp (in two places), but had no idea as to the importance of the Wilkinson family. I’m a serious antique collector myself and while the piece is perhaps a little late for my Georgian tastes, I’m still very fond of it. I always felt it might date c.1825, but from the information you provided, it would appear to date slightly later, maybe c. 1835-40, No matter, it has a wonderful colour and patina (well cared for by me!) and does not have the heavy lines we associate with much of the furniture from the mid- to late- Victorian period.
Just out of curiosity, I did a Google map search of “14 Ludgate Hill” and found that it looks nothing at all as it would have appeared in the early 19th century! As far as I could determine, it is not far from St.Paul’s Cathedral , but I may be incorrect.
Many thanks again for shedding some light on this interesting aspect of English cabinet- making.
Kind regards,
Richard
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hi
Your cabinet sounds lovely and will certainly be of good quality. Yes, I think Ludgate hill is near to St.Paul’s Cathedral but i am sure it has drastically changed after world war 2 and with newer building being built around this area over the last century. I hope you keep on enjoying your lovely pieces, like you I am a big fan of simple Georgian pieces but I can really appreciate quality and i do have a few select pieces later in date but of high quality.
Many thanks
James
HI James,
Many thanks for your response. Maybe I was incorrect in referring to my piece as a “server.” I see you are offering a Victorian one for sale and that you refer to it as a “buffet” – with the three wide shelves.
I wasn’t sure what to call it – an “etagere” is something else altogether, a smaller piece and if I’m not mistaken, taller in height.
Thank you again.
Regards,
Richard
Good evening. I have come across a 2 drawer desk with an inlayed top stamp with W &C Wilkinson 14 ludget Hill 19416. I live just outside South London and wondered if it’s worth anything to someone who collects and likes old furniture? I would be pleased to hear from you. Regards Peter.
Hi
If you would like to email me pictures and I can see if it is of interest to us
Thanks
James
The V&A website (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/2dadd407-d4ca-431a-a882-5fc6eab76d13) says Hindley & Wilkinson were absorbed into Marshall and Snellgrove in 1916 and that it holds a history of the firm written in 1922.
Hello – I have a brass inlay rosewood cabinet stamped Wilkinson Ludgate Hill, inventory6392.L. It is
6 feet two with two columns, yellow and grey scagliola top. The inlay is very elegant and
is on the three doors and two drawers, all recently perfectly restored. Is it possible to
come up with an accurate market value for a piece like this? Price on the web seem all over
the map. Thanks for your advice. David
p.s. columns are scagliola with very fine brass mounts
Hi
Unfortunately it would be too difficult to say without seeing it in the flesh. If you are too far away from us, I would recommend a very good auctioneer as it sounds like a lovely piece
Thanks
James
I’m not sure if my set of four chairs are gillows or possibly Wilkinson could you help, they have had the brackets removed and screw corner blocks fitted at some stage. I think they are around 1820-30
Hi
are they stamped on the chairs?
Good afternoon,
My parents did live near London and I inherited a bridgetable.
It has the stamp of Wilkinson&Sons 14 Ludgate Hill and has a number 4901.
Can someone tell me what the worth of this bridgetable is. I have to sell it off because I’m moving and have no room for it anymore.
Kind regards
Wilma
Hi
Please send us a picture and I will see if it is of interest to us to buy
Kind regards
James
Hi,
Many years ago I remember my late father telling me that our family were well known furniture makers in London but up until now I hadn’t found anything about them.
Thank you for this very informative article.
Nigel Wilkinson
Hi have a , well I don’t what it is really it is a cabinet , with glass doors with a lead lattice over the top of them (like old windows of the sixteenth century) It doesn’t have just Wilkinson on it , there is a plaque which has Hindley & Wilkinson Limited , underneath 69 Welbeck St and underneath that & 8, Old Bond ST., W.
The cabinet has shelves a bit like a bookcase, the original key in situ . There is also a very small shelf that pulls out by 2 small knobs and also the whole top of the cabinet moves forward on runners to reveal a secret compartment
I would love to know what this is and if it is some how related to Wilkinson & Sons