B

BAGSHAW, John & Sons: Retailers at 87 and 89 Church Street, Liverpool. Walnut tea caddy with engraved gilt-brass mounts and domed lid with malachite oval, c. 1865; interior with two compartments with lids with gilt-brass plates inscribed ‘GREEN’ and ‘BLACK’; brass hinge inscribed ‘JOHN BAGSHAW & SONS 87 & 89 CHURCH St. LIVERPOOL’. (Christie’s, South Kensington, 15 September 1999, Lot 105) 

BAKER, Robert & Co.: (fl. 1798-1806); trunk and plate case maker, at 117 Long Acre, London; trade card for Baker & Co. lists: ‘VENETIAN BLINDS & PLATE GLASS FOR CARRIAGES BAKER & Co. TRUNK & PLATE CASE MAKERS to their Majesties, and their Royal Highnesses the PRINCE of WALES & DUKE of YORK … Campaign Trunks, Camp Cases, & Tea Equipages ... Solid Leather Trunks & Fire Bucketts, Packing Trunks Wholesale, Retail & for Exportation. By his MAJESTY’S Royal Letters Patent Chain Belts made to prevent Trunks from being cut off Carriages’. (Listing in Post Office Directory for London, 1806)  

BAKER, Samuel, jun.: Listed as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ at 77 Carver Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

BANKS, John: Listed as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ at 40 Howard Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

BANKS, Thomas George: Listed as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ at 3 Holland Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

BARROW, John: Manufacturer of ‘writing desks, tea caddies, ladies’ & gents’ dressing cases’ at 107 Rea Street, Birmingham. (Listing in Ward & Price’s New Birmingham Directory, 1823). 

BARTON, Thomas (fl. 1863-1903).: The Chalet, Mount Ephraim, Royal Tunbridge Wells. Barton purchased the business of his employer (from the 1830s), Edmund Nye. Many Tunbridge ware tea chests and caddies bearing Barton’s label are known. Two coromandel caddies, c. 1870, bear labels on base: ‘T.Barton Late Nye Manufacturer Mount Ephriam and Parade Tunbridge Wells’. (Private collection; Chapter 6: Tunbridge Ware, Figures 6.32 and 6.33) 

BAXTER: 16 Cockspur Street, London. Plain wooden tea caddy with brass mounts, c. 1860-70. (ebay, February 2006) 

BAYLEY, SON & BLEW: Cabinetmakers from late eighteenth century onwards, at 17 Cockspur Street, London. Large ebony-veneered tea chest with silver mounts with marks for John Shekleton, London, 1803, and red leather label with gold lettering in well for sugar bowl: ‘MANUFACTURED BY BAYLEY & BLEW 5 COCKSPUR STREET LONDON’. Traded as Bayley, Blew and Chapman, 1829-1835. (DEFM) 

BELCHIER, JOHN: (fl. 1717-1753). Cabinetmaker at ‘Ye Sun, in St Paul’s Church Yard, London. Surviving billheads claim he made: ‘All sorts of Cabinet Works, Chairs, Glasses, Sconces, & Coach-Glass’; one is receipt for a ‘tea box’ (among other items) supplied to the Purefoy family of Shalston in Buckinghamshire during the 1730s. (DEFM; Chapter 5: Wood …)  

BERRISSFORD, Anthony: (1716-1784). Stone worker in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Trade label on walnut tea chest with mirrored glass panels on top and sides, c. 1740, states ‘ready for sale … a large Quantity of English and Foreign Marbles … Gentlemen may have Chimney Pieces, Tables, … And all kind of Ornaments and Marble, Curious Crystalline Substances Done in the Best … manner, And at Reasonable Rates’. (W.R. Harvey Antiques, Witney, 2008) 

BEST, John: (fl.1798-1839). Cabinetmaker at St Columb Major, Cornwall. Handbill under lid of mahogany work table, c. 1805, stating ‘JOHN BEST Cabinet-maker, Upholsterer, and Auctioneer ST. COLUMB MAKES AND SELLS … Plain, inlaid, and varnished, tea caddees Plated cadee shells [caddy spoons] … and numerous other items’. (DEFM) 

BETJEMANN, George, & Sons: (fl. 1851-59). Cabinetmakers at 6 Upper Ashby Street, Clerkenwell 36 Pentonville Rd, London. Firm founded by George Betjemann in 1851; sons George William and John joined firm c. 1858. Listed as makers of ‘Dressing cases, writing sets and book slides’ in The Illustrated Catalogue of the International Exhibition, London, 1862. Entry in J. Culme, The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914. (Information from ‘The London Assay Office Registers’, Antiques Collectors’ Club, 1987, p. 43.) Large coromandel tea chest, c. 1865, with gilt-metal mounts, Wedgwood plaques, two brass roundels engraved with the arms of Edinburgh (left) and those of Charles Lawson, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, 1862-65 (right); mounts on front impressed ‘George Betjemann & Sons’ (left), ‘MAKERS LONDON’ (right). Brass strip inside engraved with retailer’s name ‘STEPHENSON 25 PRINCES STREET EDINBURGH’ (see STEPHENSON, Robert). (Private collection; Chapter 24: A Case Study)   

BETTISON, Samuel: (fl. 1793 onwards). Perfumer, toyman and retailer of Tunbridge ware, including: ‘Tea caddys Double & Single curiously Inlaid in a pleasing variety of Sorts & Patterns’, and similar ‘Tea Chests’, at 17 Theobald’s Row, Bloomsbury Sq, London and, by 1794, ‘next door to Philpott’s Bathing Rooms, High-street Margate’. (Chapter 6: Tunbridge Ware)  

BILL, Richard & George: (fl. 1818-1839). Papier mâché manufacturers at 12, 13, 14 Summer Lane, Birmingham, and 17 Ave Maria Lane (depot), London. Advertisement states ‘RICHd & GEOr BILL Japanners & Manufacturers of Paper Trays of all shapes, also Cabinets, Toilette, Work & Card Boxes Tables, Table Tops, Work & Hand Screens TEA CHESTS. CADDEES. QUADRILLE POOLS CARD RACKS. SNUFF BOXES Pannells for Miniature Frames & Veneering & EVERY OTHER DESCRIPTION OF ARTICLE In Papier Mâché’ (Wrightson’s The Directory of Birmingham, 1839). Trade card stating the same (The J. Evan Bedford Library of Furniture History; Chapter 16: Papier Mâché, Figure 16.20) 

BLAKEMORE, William: Listed as ‘Tortoiseshell, ivory & Pearl case and Caddy Maker’ at 137 Great Charles Street, Birmingham, in Shalder’s Birmingham Directory, 1854. 

BLISSETT, John: Listed as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ in Scholefield Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

BLYDE, Charles: ‘Cabinet Maker and Upholdsterer, Appraiser and Undertaker’ at ‘The Chair and Tea-Chest in Knaves Acre’, London. Trade card, c. 1760. (Heal, pp. 11, 20; Bishopsgate Institute, London; Chapter 5: Wood, Figure 5.47) 

BRADLEY, Thomas: Listed as tortoiseshell tea caddy maker at 30 Cross Street, Birmingham, in Francis White & Co.’s History and General Directory of the Borough of Birmingham … Parish of Aston, the Soho and Part of Handsworth, 1849; at 16 Charlotte Street as ‘Tortoiseshell, Pearl and Ivory, Work-Box and Tea Caddy Manufacturer in Hulley’s Birmingham Directory, 1876, and as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ at 16 Charlotte Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873.  

BRICKELL, John: Listed as ‘tortoiseshell, ivory, and pearl case, and caddy maker’ in Essex Street, Birmingham, in Shalder’s Birmingham Directory, 1854. 

BRIDGES, G.: ‘Perfumer, Hair Cutter, and Stationer’ at 29 High Street, Oxford. Advertised numerous articles, including tea chests and caddies, in Hunt’s Oxford Directory, 1846. 

BRIDGES, Mary: Listed as ‘tortoiseshell, ivory, and pearl case, and caddy maker’ at 49 Horse Fair, Birmingham, in Shalder’s Birmingham Directory, 1854. 

BRIGGS, Thomas: (fl. 1819-1835). Cabinetmaker at 127 Piccadilly, London. Rectangular walnut-veneered tea chest, c. 1830, with brass plate inside engraved ‘BRIGGS MANUFACTURER 127 PICCADILLY LONDON’. Lock stamped ‘J. BRAMAH, 124 PICCADILLY’. (Christie’s South Kensington, London, 27 September 2005, Lot 196) 

BRODIE, Francis: (b. 1708). Cabinetmaker ‘At the sign of Palladio’s Head, South Side of the Lawne Market, Edinburgh, Deacon of the Wrights’. Bills for an ‘Amboina wood Tea Chest’ to Mrs Gordon for £1-0-0, March and April 1749, and ‘a Small Tea Chest & Canisters’ to Mrs Ross of Pitcalnie for £0-4-6, 1759. (Furniture History Society Journal, Vol. XIX, 1983, pp. 16, 46, 47) 

BROWN, James: (fl. 1747-96). Upholder and cabinetmaker at The King’s Arms (later No. 29), St Paul’s Churchyard, London. Receipt for 3 guineas (£3 3s) for ‘A Neat Mahogany Tea Chest, best Cannisters, Silver handles, Escutcheon etc.’ supplied to Croome Court, Worcestershire, in 1785. (G. Beard, ‘Decorators and furniture makers at Croome Court’, Furniture History Society Journal, Vol. XXIX, 1993, and DEFM) 

BROWN, John & Son: Newcastle; advertised as as ‘Cutlers, Surgical Instrument and Truss makers, but ‘really Working Opticians’, in Grey Street, Newcastle, in Richardson’s Directory, Newcastle and Gateshead, 1838. Sold tea caddies, among many other items. 

BROWN, Thomas: Advertised as ‘Manufacturer of Tortoise Shell, and Pearl Tea Caddies’ at 202 Cheapside, Birmingham, in Slater’s Directory of Birmingham, 1852/3. 

BRUCE & BURNS: Upholsterers with cabinet warehouse at 16 South Bridge Street, and 27 South Bridge Street (1804-13), Edinburgh, Scotland. Mahogany D-shaped tea table, c. 1800, fitted with caddy drawer containing tinplate tea canisters; rim of drawer impressed ‘BRUCE & BURNS EDINr’. (The National Trust for Scotland, The Georgian House, Edinburgh; Chapter 2: Overview, Figure 2.17) 

BULLOCK, George: (b. 1777/8-1818). Sculptor and cabinetmaker, in Church Street, Liverpool. In partnership with William Stoakes (1805-7), and with Joseph Gandy (1809-10). Opened premises in London in 1813. Oak teapoy, c. 1816, with brass inlay and ebony mouldings (Christie’s; Chapter 23: Teapoys …, Figure 23.37). ‘A highly polished oak repository for tea and sugar, with border of holly, the four divisions lined with green velvet, containing two rich cut-glass sugar basons, and two ditto canisters, lock and key’, was included in sale of Bullock’s furniture and effects held by James Christie in May 1819.  

BULLOCK, James: ‘Manufacturing Jeweller, Silversmith, etc. General Depot for Elegant & Useful Fancy Goods’ at 31 Milsom Street, Bath’, from 1829; at 33 Park Street, Bristol, from 1831. Sold ‘Papier mâché Trays, Caddies, Tables … Mahogany Desks, Dressing Cases, Work Boxes Tea-Poys … Elegantly Bound Bibles’ (advertisement in Bath Directory 1858-59), and ‘Rosewood, Walnut, Mahogany, and other Wood Desks, Dressing Cases, Workboxes, Tea Poys, and Fancy Cabinet Goods generally Plain, Decorated, and Mounted in the greatly admired Medieval Style’ (advertisement in Bath Directory, 1861).  

BUME, Timy: Cabinetmaker in Hethersett, Norwich, Norfolk. Satinwood-veneered tea chest, c. 1800, with inlaid insets, kingwood crossbanding, and two canisters with oval raised-neck lids. Hand-written inscription on interior divider states ‘Timy Bume maker December 1806, natural son of Timy Bume, wheelwright, Hethersett, Norfolk, who departed this life the 4 day of June 1804’. (Fine Antique Boxes, May 2001) 

BURGESS, John & Son[s]: Listed as ‘Tortoise Shell, Pearl & Ivory Work Box, Tea Caddy &c. Manufacturer[s]’ at 127-129 Great Charles Street, Birmingham in Hulley’s Directory of Birmingham, 1870, and again in 1876-77; as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

BUTLER, Michael: (fl. 1877-1912). Cabinetmakers at 29 Liffey Street (1877-84), at 127 Abbey Street (1886-1904), and at 126-128 Upper Abbey Street (1904-1912) Dublin, Ireland. Specialised in restoring and reproducing ‘Chippendale, Adams & Sheraton’ furniture. ‘M. BUTLER DUBLIN’ stamped near base on front of hexagonal mahogany tea caddy with boxwood ovals on front and lid in eighteenth-century style, c. 1900, (formerly in the Robert Harman collection). (The Knight of Glin, ‘Dublin directories and trade labels’, Furniture History Society Journal, Vol. XXI, 1985, pp. 262, 271-72) 

BYFORD, Thomas: Listed as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ in Scotland Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873.