One of the most influential and successful British furniture manufacturers of the Victorian era, Holland & Sons was renowned for its superb quality. It would be difficult to find collectors unfamiliar with Holland — or its rival, Gillows of Lancaster and London — as the company was a leader in neoclassical and Gothic furniture and interior design in the early to mid-1800s, using only the richest of hardwoods and the finest of metals. Antique Holland & Sons chairs, storage cabinets and tables frequently featured rare-specimen wood marquetry and engraved ivory inlays. The manufacturer’s designs grace the collections of museums around the world and can still be found in the royal homes of Europe.
Two cabinetmakers, Stephen Taprell and William Holland, opened a small joinery in 1815 near Buckingham Palace in London, England, and named it Taprell & Holland. Holland was a relative of the acclaimed Regency architect Henry Holland, the famous gardener and landscape architect Lancelot "Capability" Brown, and the former Member of Parliament Richard Bateman-Robson. This familial edge provided the needed influence for the company among the aristocracy, and their business saw immediate prosperity.
The firm traded under the name Taprell, Holland & Son for a period, and when Taprell retired in 1843, Holland took over the company and changed the name to Holland & Sons. Holland decided to diversify and began offering a broad range of services to the very wealthy — arranging furniture and household decoration rentals, managing funerals and even providing plumbing services. By 1851, they employed over 350 people.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert commissioned Holland & Sons to supply the entire furnishings of their private homes — Osborne House, Balmoral Castle, Sandringham House and Marlborough House. The Monarch’s satisfaction with Holland and Son’s furnishings led to the company being granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment, affording the owners the opportunity to display the coveted “By Appointment of HM The Queen” mark and her Coat of Arms above the entrance to their offices.
Other Holland & Sons furniture commissions of note include the London Union Club, the Athenaeum Hotel in London, Arundel Castle in West Essex and the All Souls College in Oxford. The firm was also involved in the funerals of Prince Albert and the mother of Queen Victoria — both in 1861 — and contributed works to the 1901 coronation of Edward VII when they made the throne for his wife, Queen Alexandra.
On 1stDibs, find antique Holland & Sons tables, cabinets, seating and more.
Victorian Birch or Satinwood Writing Table, Attributed to Holland and Sons
By Holland & Sons
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian birch or satinwood writing table, attributed to Holland and Sons, the leather-inset top with moulded edges above a disguised single frieze drawer, the end supports compri...
Ceramic, Leather, Birch, Kingwood, Satinwood, Tulipwood
A Regency rosewood six drawer library table by Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Regency rosewood six drawer library table by Gillows, the rectangular top inset with a replaced tooled burgundy leather within a bead and reel border, with three frieze drawers on ...
Leather, Rosewood
Fine William IV Period Rosewood Library Table by George Simson and Son
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Fine William IV Period Rosewood Library Table by George Simson and Son of St Paul’s Churchyard, London, c.1837. The finely shaped rectangular top with rounded corners, supported on ...
Rosewood
Victorian Walnut Marquetry Writing Table Attributed to Edward Holmes Baldock
By Edward Holmes Baldock
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian walnut marquetry writing table attributed to Edward Holmes Baldock, the shaped rectangular top with an oval panel inset with tooled green leather, the frieze with two small side drawers, all raised on solid baluster end supports joined by a spiral-turned stretcher, decorated with bone, stained and exotic woods with naturalistic flowers and boxwood stringing. English, circa 1850. Footnote: Edward Holmes Baldock, (1777-1845) was one of the first London antique dealers, in the modern sense of the word. He principally dealt in 18th century French furniture and Chinese Export porcelain, and commissioned furniture to compliment his inventory. This furniture has strong French design influences, but retains subtle English details (the floral marquetry often depicts English wildflowers...
Walnut
Late Regency Rosewood Free Standing Library Table by James Winter
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late Regency rosewood free standing library table, by James Winter, the rectangular leather-inset top with a gadrooned edge and frieze enclosin...
Rosewood
A Fine Quality Amboyna George IV Writing Table, Attributed to Morel and Seddon
By Morel & Seddon
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
The overhanging rectangular top with rounded corners veneered almost entirely in amboyna with a wide crossbanding of rosewood. Under the top is a narrow frieze, and the table is supp...
Rosewood, Amboyna
Early Victorian Mahogany Writing Table With Cope & Collinson Casters
Located in Essex, MA
Typical form with rectangular top with inset brown leather over two drawers flanked by rounded paneled ends, raised on lotus carved turned tapered legs and casters.
Brass
Rare Victorian Holland and Sons Double Sided Hardwood Partner Desk Writing Table
By Holland & Sons
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning rare and original early Victorian Holland and Son’s mahogany double sided library table or ...
Leather, Hardwood
Victorian Writing Table Mahogany Desk Holland and Sons 1870
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Mahogany 2 drawer writing table. Circa 1870 This writing table comes with the makers mark of Holland and Sons The writing table is raised upon ring turned legs with original brass ca...
Mahogany
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Library Table Writing Desk
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Essex, MA
Period Early 19th Century English Regency Leather Top Partners Desk or Library Table. Three Drawers each on opposite long sides. One drawer each on opposite shorter sides. Origina...
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Regency Period Rosewood Writing Table
Located in London, GB
A fine early 19th century Regency period rosewood writing table, having rectangular bow end tooled leather top, above beaded frieze with 2 real & 2 dummy drawers raised on end-suppor...
Rosewood
19th Century Regency Period Rosewood Writing Table
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Regency period well figured rosewood writing table, having rectangular top above frieze with concealed drawers raise...
Rosewood
