Allsop, Isaac

Worksop, Nottinghamshire; Windsor chair maker (fl.1841-1887)

Isaac Allsop may have come from High Wycombe to join the Goodwins, chair makers at Wellow, before setting up in Worksop, initially in partnership with Moss, but by 1841 he was trading on his own account.

He was recorded in the Post Office Directory for Derby, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland, 1848. Also, in the Nottinghamshire Directory, 1848. The firm which was one of the largest and most productive, closed in 1887.

It issued a trade card in the late 19^th century headed  ‘I. Allsop & Son, Windsor Chair Manufacturers, Worksop-Notts.’ with a list of chair prices in elm, cherry or yew, the most expensive at 18s was a ‘Smoking High Yew’ with an extra 1/- for ‘Rockers if required’ whilst cheapest product was a ‘Round Stool Elm’ at 3s 6d.

The reverse of the card shows illustrations of six chairs offered, ‘Office, ‘Smoking High’, ‘Best High’, ‘Best Low’, ‘Roman’ and ‘Grecian’ (illus. Gilbert (1991), pls 169-170). A few chairs carry either a brandmark, stencil or punched stamp. A stamped kitchen chair, the pattern called a ‘Roman Windsor’, is illustrated in Gilbert (1991), pl. 171.

Source: Gilbert, English Vernacular Furniture 1750-1900 (1991).