Bott, Thomas

London; cabinet maker and upholsterer (fl.1816–45)

Addresses given at 10–11 Gt Portland Street, Oxford Street 1816–31, and 28 Margaret Street in 1832–39. Listed at the latter address in the London Post Office Directory 1845.

Bott supplied furniture to Streatlam Castle, Co. Durham, receipts for which are dated July 1829 and January 1830. An estimate of 10 July 1829, totalling £67 4s, refers to ‘A French Bedstead with Solid Ends & Sweep etc. Sideboards neatly Japaned in colors of chintz hangings … Handsome chintz hangings for ditto lined thro’ blue & white stripe — Teaster cloth & full valence finished twine fringes bound silk lace …’. [Durham Records Office, Strathmore MS D/St/64].

He also received substantial commission from John Arkwright of Hampton Court, Leominster, Herefordshire, being paid a total of £230 10s 6d in May 1830. His bill covers extensive redecoration, including the repair of furniture, supplying of new furniture, curtain and roller-blind making, and paper hanging, prior to rebuilding of Hampton Court, 1834–42. Bott sent Arkwright another bill on 6 November 1834 for items supplied in 1832, including principally eight mahogany dining room chairs covered in red Morocco leather and costing £23 4s. An accompanying letter asks for payment of outstanding amount as he has ‘experienced several disappointments latterly’. [Herefordshire Records Office Arkwright papers, A63/161].

An account dated 9 October 1830 lists furniture made for Thomas Vernon of Hanbury Hall, near Droitwich, Worcestershire. His bill, totalling £137 18s 6d, describes a handsome suite of furniture in rosewood, including 12 chairs costing £39 12s, a sofa £22 10s, and two elbow chairs, £10 each, all being ‘stuffed and covered purple morocco finish gold colour silk netted Buttons and gimp’, an occasional table, and a circular table ‘on Neat Turned and carved Pillars triangular block feet and castors.’ Vernon also commissioned Bott for a suite of mahogany bedroom furniture, including a carved four-post bedstead with cornices, bedding and chintz hangings, washstand, dressing table and two wardrobes. His bill, totalling £208 6s 4d, was paid on 5 April 1831, and also listed a rosewood tea poy and Davenport desk, and making window curtains. [Worcestershire Records Office, Vernon papers, 7335/705:7/8ii 39–40; 77v 30 and 45]

Bott worked for the Lucy family at Charlecote Park, Warkwickshire, submitting a bill on 8 December 1837 totalling £158 13s 6d for twenty-two antique oak dining chairs and two matching elbow chairs with turned supports and upholstered in Genoa velvet. [National Trust guide to Charlecote Park, p. 27; Joy, English Furniture, 1800–1851, p. 121; Warwick Records Office, L6/1118; V & A archives].

Source: DEFM