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The Cabinetmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: Giving Attention to the City's Chief Craftsmen in the Furniture Way; And to Their Tools & Methods of WorkingHeuvel, Johannes

History

The Cabinetmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: Giving Attention to the City's Chief Craftsmen in the Furniture Way; And to Their Tools & Methods of Working

Name: The Cabinetmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: Giving Attention to the City's Chief Craftsmen in the Furniture Way; And to Their Tools & Methods of Working
Author: Heuvel, Johannes

Heuvel, Johannes

Furniture making; Furniture workers -- Virginia -- Williamsburg; Furniture, Colonial -- Virginia -- Williamsburg

[Illustration: _Venetian blinds were widely made and used in both
    the Old World and the New. This how-to-do-it illustration also comes
    from Diderot’s encyclopedia._]

In 1755 Peter Scott announced that he intended to leave for England and
would sell his house and lots, “Two Negroes, bred to the Business of a
Cabinet-Maker,” and “sundry Pieces of Cabinet Work, of Mahogany and
Walnut, consisting of Desks, Book-Cases, Tables of various Sorts, Tools,
and some Materials.” Apparently his plan did not materialize, for when
he died 20 years later his estate included “A great variety of cabinet
makers tools, Mahogany, Walnut, Pine Plank, like wise new walnut book
cases, desks, tables, &c.”

From personal account books of John Mercer, lawyer, and Robert Carter of
Nomini Hall, planter and councilor, we know that Scott made a set of
book shelves for the former and twice repaired tables for him, and that
he made two card tables, one sideboard, and four picture frames for the
latter.

In 1772 Benjamin Bucktrout submitted a bill for services to the same
Robert Carter of Nomini Hall. It is worth quoting in full:

  1772                                                        £ _s_ _d_
  June 15     To mending a Meusick Stand                      0   1   6
  Octbr. 26   To 8 Mahogy. Chares Stufed over the Rails      16  13   8
              with Brass nails @£25/pr doz.
              To 4 Elbow Chares @ 55/                        11   0   0
  Decemr. 29  To 65 feet of pine @ d 1½                           8  3½
              To 150 8d nails for a packing Case for             12   0
              Harpsecord 2/ makeing and packing do. 10/
                                                            £28  15  5½

Three years later Edmund Dickinson rendered a similar statement:

  The Estate Colo John Prentis
  To Edmund B. Dickinson Dr

              Novr 23d 1773
              setting up bedsted 2/6 July 9th mend: &       £ 1   2   6
              Cleaning up 6 chairs
              15th puting lock on closet                          2   6
              19 coffin for his Son William with Nails &c     2  15   -
              and attendance
  1774        Jany 3d to 7 pulleys 17/6 January 21 setting    1   -   -
              up bed at Mrs Hay’s 2/6
              April 25 takeing down bedsted 2/6                   2   6
  1775        June 14 mend: bedsted 1/3 augt 23d puting           3   3
              lock on Room case 2/
              Sept 6th mend: Mahogany table                       2   6
              25 putting up bedsted & Curtains                    2   6
              Novr 4 to a Coffin lined throughout for         5  15   0
              himself & my Attendance
                                                            £11   5   9

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Cabinetmaker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: Giving Attention to the City's Chief Craftsmen in the Furniture Way; And to Their Tools & Methods of Working

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