M

List of Makers and Retailers

MACK, WILLIAMS & GIBTON: (fl. 1812-1829). Cabinetmakers and upholsterers at 39 Stafford Street, Dublin, Ireland. Trade label with royal coat-of-arms stating ‘MACK, WILLIAMS & GIBTON Upholsterers & Cabinet Makers TO HIS MAJESTY his Excellency the Lord lieutenant And the Rg Honble & Honble His Majesty’s Board of Works 39, Stafford St Dublin N.B. Auctions Valuations & Funerals Attended.’ (The Knight of Glin, ‘Dublin directories and trade labels’, Furniture History Society Journal, Vol. XXI, 1985, p. 269). Invoice for supplying a ‘Rich Mahogany tapered tea store on pillar and claws, lightly finished in French polish with tin linings on brass castors’ to the Rev. John Marsh Armstrong, Curate of Kilgeffin, Co. Roscommon, Ireland. (The Irish Ancestor, Vol. III, No.2, 1976). Mahogany sarcophagus tea store, c. 1820; brass handles on sides; short turned pillar on four reeded legs; large tinplate canister with perforations in base and shallow drawer beneath; two smaller canisters; lower rear edge impressed ‘MACK, WILLIAMS & GIBTON D1516’. (The National Trust, Northern Ireland, The Argory, Moy; Chapter 23: Teapoys, Figure 23.16) 

MACLEAN, J.D.: Cabinetmaker in Dundee, Scotland. Rosewood teapoy, c. 1825, with sarcophagus tea chest on baluster column and platform base with acanthus scroll feet; four canisters and two wells for sugar bowls; base of one canister impressed twice ‘J.D. MACLEAN’. (Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh, 7 December 2007, Lot 600) 

MARKLAND, William: Listed as ‘manufacturer of caddee shells [caddy spoons], tea cannisters’ at Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in Wrightson’s New Triennial Directory of Birmingham, 1821. 

MARKS, Edwin: Retailer of Tunbridge ware at the Calverley Library on Calverley Promenade, Tunbridge Wells. Advertisement in A Summer Excursion to Tunbridge Wells and its Neighbourhood, 1841, offering ‘A large assortment of this beautiful ware’, including teapoys and tea chests.  

MARSHALL AND DOUGHTY: (fl. 1795-1809). Turners and cabinet ware makers at the ‘Toy, Tunbridge & spinning wheel manufactory’ in Coney Street, York. Advertised ‘all kinds of Toys, Tunbridge and Turnery articles viz. small Cabinet Boxes, Tea Caddies, Writing Desks, Umbrellas, Trinkets’ in York Herald, 14 February 1795.  

MARTIN, N.: Cabinetmaker in Froxfield, Hampshire. Rosewood-veneered tea caddy with kingwood crossbanding and satinwood and harewood oval inset, dated 1793; signed ‘N. Martin, maker, Froxfield, 1793’. (Sotheby’s, Pulborough, November 1983) 

MATHER, J. & T. (Newcastle Stove Grate Manufactory): Metal goods manufacturers at 71 Pilgrim Street, and at 13 and 14 Dean Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Advertised retail of ‘Fancy Cabinet Goods’, including tea chests in Richardson’s Newcastle and Gateshead Directory Advertiser, 1838.  

MAYHEW, John & INCE, William: (In partnership 1759-1803). Cabinetmakers, upholsterers and designers in Broad Street, Soho, London. After Ince’s death in 1804, Mayhew continued the business alone until 1809. In 1762 they published The Universal System of Household Furniture which featured designs almost exclusively in the rococo style. Goods provided to Croome Court, Worcestershire, between 16 April and 14 October 1765, included ‘a yew tree Tea Canister lined with lead (£1.10s.)’, and between March 1776 and 1777, an inlaid tea chest. (G. Beard, ‘Decorators and furniture makers at Croome Court’, Furniture History Society Journal, Vol. XXIX, 1993, pp. 99, 105). Satinwood tea chest, c. 1775, inlaid with motifs relating to tea drinking (tea bowl on lid and stylised urn-shaped canister on front) attributed to firm on stylistic grounds. (Private collection; Chapter 5: Wood …, Figure 5.64) 

McCALLAM & HODSON: Papier mâché manufacturers at 147 Brearley Street, Birmingham. Displayed papier mâché tea chest with inlaid view of the Alhambra, and tea caddy inlaid with pearl flowers and landscape, at Great Exhibition, London, 1851. Listed as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ at 23 Summer Row, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

McKERROW: Mauchline ware manufacturer in Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. Mauchline ware caddy (tartan ware), c. 1835. Sycamore; covered with paper painted with plaid pattern and decorated on lid with painted scene of winter landscape with pheasants; impressed ‘McKerrow’ on base. (Private collection; Chapter 7: Mauchline Ware, Figure 7.18) 

MECHI, John Joseph: (Founded 1827). Cabinet and case makers, and fancy goods retailers at 41 Leadenhall Street; manufactory at 12 Cambridge Road, Mile End; from 1858 at 112 Regent Street W; 2A Glasshouse Street W., London. Between 1859 and 1869, in partnership with Bazin (see below), then reverted to J.J. Mechi. Advertisement in Robson’s London Directory, 1840, included ‘Mechi’s Novel and Splendid Papier Mâché Articles such as Tea Trays, Tea Caddies, Card Cases, Twist Baskets, Netting Boxes, etc.’, as well as articles suitable for ladies including ‘Ladies’ Scotch [Mauchline ware] tea caddies 21s.-4Ds.’. (The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, John Johnson Collection). Front cover of illustrated catalogue, c. 1850, listed ‘Cutlery, Desks, Dressing Cases, Work Boxes, Tea Trays & Papier Mâché Elegancies, Bagatelle & Backgammon Boards. Everything for the Toilet and Work Table, Pocket Books, Card Cases, Portfolios & Inkstands. Try Mechi’s Magic Strop, Mechi’s Parent Castellated Silver Wire Tooth Brushes, 9d. each, Ladies Ivory Handled Penknives 1s. each.’ (The J. Evan Bedford Library of Furniture History). Advertised papier mâché goods at ‘Mechi’s Multiformia, 4 Leadenhall St’ in the Morning Chronicle, 6 August 1850, stating in ‘this New Showroom are exhibited the most popular specimens of papier mâché produced in this country. An immense variety of Ladies and Gentlemans’ Dressing Cases, Work Tables, Tea Poys, Tea Trays, Hand Screens, Pole Screens, Card Cases and Twist Baskets etc. Everything for the Toilet and Work Tables of the best quality, and at moderate prices, may be had at Mechi’s, 4 Leadenhall-Street, near the India House’. (The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, John Johnson Collection). Tea chests and caddies were listed in the firm’s entry in the Official Descriptive & Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition, 1851, Vol II, pp. 220, 732, 791. Tea chests from John Joseph Mechi’s Illustrated Catalogue, London, c. 1850. (The Bodleian Libraries, The University of Oxford; John Johnson Collection; Chapter 3.: Making …, Figure 3.29). Two walnut caddies with gilt-metal mounts from above catalogue. Chapter 5: Wood …, Figure 5.103). Miniature walnut tea caddy with brass strapwork has rectangular brass strip on rear inner rim engraved ‘J.J. Mechi, 112 Regent St, London’. (Private collection; Chapter 5: Wood …, Figure 5.101) 

MECHI AND BAZIN: (fl. 1859-1869). Cabinet and case makers, and fancy goods retailers at 112 Regent Street; 4 Leadenhall Street; 48 Glasshouse Street and Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London. Bazin died in 1865 but his widow worked as manager under the same name. Listed as makers of coromandel tea chests and walnut caddies in the Official Descriptive & Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition, 1862.  

MILLER: Cabinetmaker at 52 & 53 Park Street, Bristol. Large rectangular burr walnut tea chest, c. 1860, with labels on undersides of canister lids stating ‘MILLER 52 & 53 Park Street, Bristol’. (ebay, November 1999) 

MILNE, William: (fl.1833-58). Wig maker and retailer of fancy goods, including tea caddies, in High Street, Dalkeith, Scotland. Advertised ‘Perfumery, Cutlery, Hardware, Guns, Musical Instruments, Ladies Work Boxes, Desks and Cabinets, Walking Sticks and Fishing Rods, Gentlemen’s Wigs and Ladies Ornamental Hair-work’ in Gray’s Annual Directory of Edinburgh and Leith, Part Fifth, The Annual Advertiser. 

MILNE, William and John: Listed as ‘stationers, desk and dressing case makers’ at 126 Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, in The Post Office Edinburgh and Leith Directory, 1860-61. Coromandel tea chest, c. 1860, with domed lid and engraved gilt-metal strapwork mounts; narrow brass strip on inner rear rim engraved ‘W. & J. MILNE PRINCES STREET EDINBURGH’. (Witney Antiques, Witney, 1994; Chapter 5: Wood …, Figure 5.100). Firm continued at various addresses in Edinburgh until 1927. 

MINGAY, G.H.: Family of retailers of fancy goods at 7 Old Haymarket, Norwich, between approximately 1850 and 1890. Rectangular coromandel tea chest with domed lid and gilt-brass mounts; two compartments with domed lids; brass plaque between hinges engraved ‘G.H. MINGAY NORWICH’. (Private collection; Chapter 5: Wood Figure 5.102) 

​

MINSHULL, Samuel: Listed as ‘Tortoise Shell, Pearl & Ivory Work Box, Tea Caddy &c. Manufacturer[s]’ at 90 Lombard Street, Birmingham, in Hulley’s Directory of Birmingham, 1870, and as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ at 77 Carver Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

MITCHELL, Alexander: Cabinetmaker (address not recorded). Sarcophagus tea caddy, c.1810-20, with leather label on underside of lid with stamped gilt lettering stating ‘ALEXR. MITCHELL MAKER’. (‘An Anthology of Regional Furniture with Maker’s Identification’, D. Jones (ed.), The Journal of the Regional Furniture Society, Vol. Vll, 1993, p. 121)  

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

MORETON, John: Listed as ‘manufacturer of Pearl, Ivory and Tortoiseshell Tea Caddies …’ at 72 Moseley Street, Birmingham, in Kelly’s Post Office London Directory, 1864-5; as ‘ivory, pearl, & tortoiseshell tea caddy manufacturer’ in Morris & Co.’s Commercial Directory & Gazeteer of Warwickshire with Birmingham, 1866; as ‘manufacturer of Pearl, Ivory and Tortoiseshell Tea Caddies …’ in The Post Office Directory of Birmingham, 1867; as ‘Tortoise Shell, Pearl & Ivory Work Box, Tea Caddy &c. Manufacturer[s]’ in Hulley’s Directory of Birmingham, 1870, and as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ at 77 Carver Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. ‘John Moreton’ is pencilled on the underside of the lid of a tortoiseshell-veneered tea chest, beneath the original velvet lining. (Private collection) 

MORGAN & SONS: Cabinetmakers in Henry Street (c. 1780-1832), and College Green (1837 onwards), Dublin, Ireland. Mahogany sarcophagus tea store (and matching cellaret), c. 1820, on short turned pillar and quadripartite base; large removable tinplate container with two compartments of unequal size on left; compartments for two tinplate canisters on right; supplied to the Provost’s House, Trinity College, Dublin. (Trinity College, Dublin, Archives; Chapter 2: Overview …, Figure 2.19) 

​

MORGAN Benjamin: Listed as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ in MacDonald Street, Summer Lane, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

MOORAN, James: Listed as ‘Tortoise Shell, Pearl & Ivory Work Box, Tea Caddy &c. Manufacturer[s]’ in Villa Street, Birmingham, in Hulley’s Directory of Birmingham, 1870. 

MOORE, William: (fl. 1782 onwards). Cabinetmaker in Dublin, Ireland. Previously served apprenticeship in London with Mayhew & Ince. Commode with tea drawer, c. 1785; satinwood with marquetry decoration; three doors, central one enclosing three oak-lined drawers; middle drawer with six compartments, four containing tinplate tea canisters. (Bonhams Auctioneers, London; Chapter 23: Teapoys …, Figure 23.2).  

MOXON, Mrs M. A.: Listed as ‘Pearl, Tortoiseshell & Ivory Wrkrs. and ornament & Caddy maker[s]’ in Cecil Street, Birmingham, in Birmingham Trades Directory, 1873. 

MULLIGAN, Robert: Trade card, c. 1790, showing tea chest and stating ‘Sworn Appraiser, Bedstead Maker & Undertaker, in Mint Street, near St George’s Church Southwark … Buys & Sells all sorts of Household Goods both New and Secondhand. Makes Cabinet & Upholstery Work in General …’. (Heal, pp. 116, 123)