Capel, Henry

Great Titchfield Street, London; artistic furniture maker and upholsterer (fl. c.1866-82)

The architect, Alfred Waterhouse, employed Henry Capel to produce furniture from some of his designs.

Between 1866-73 Waterhouse  transformed Blackmoor Farm House into a mansion for Roundell Palmer, later Lord Selborne. A walnut corner desk from the library, made by Capel was illustrated in Country Life, 5 September 1974 and sold at Sotheby's, 6 May 2005 (lot 3). Also of Waterhouse designs and Blackmoor provenance were an upholstered chaise longue, bookcase, pair of upholstered linen chests, walnut hall settle and eight oak side chairs sold at Christie's, 13 May 1998 (lots 22-26). 

Capel  was at 20 Great Titchfield Street in 1878. In that year he exhibited an ‘Art piano music stools &c.’ at the 1878 Paris Exhibition [The Furniture Gazette, 5 January 1878].

The 1882 London Street & Trade Directories listed Capel as artistic furniture makers and upholsterers at 26 Great Titchfield Street. 

Source: DEFM