Chuck, John

London; cabinet maker, upholsterer, appraiser and furniture broker (fl. 1822–45)

At 18–19 Shoe Lane from 1822–29. By 1835 at 154 High Holborn. One directory of 1839 gives this latter address and indicates that the business was then trading as John & Joseph Chuck. In the illustration of the street façade of the firm's premises at 154 High Holborn from Tallis's London Street Views (1838-40), the firm is named as ‘Cabinet Manufact^rs. J & J Chuck’; see Kirkham, Furniture History (1988), fig. 37. Another directory of 1839 gives the address as 90 Shoe Lane and mentions John Chuck only. The London Post Office Directory 1845 listed John Chuck, cabinet maker, upholsterer and chair & sofa maker, at the same address.  An invoice dated 22 June 1822 made out to a Mr Wilson in respect of ‘four bordered mattresses in brown Holland & tick borders’ charged with carriage at £5 1s 6d exists in the collection of the GL. The billhead indicates that the business is a ‘NEW & SECONDHAND FURNITURE WAREHOUSE’ with ‘Household Furniture Bought Sold or Exchanged’ and ‘Rents Legally Recovered’. A trade card is in the Landauer Coll., MMA, NY. From 29 December 1838 to 24 July 1841, the South Australian Register carried an advertisement submitted by a John Chuck selling a large quantity of cedar being available at his Chair and Cabinet Manufactory, Leigh Street, Adelaide. It is not known whether this man was any relation to, or indeed was the same as, John Chuck of London.

Sources: DEFM; Kirkham, ‘Illustrations to The London Furniture Trade 1700-1870’, Furniture History (1988); Hawkins, ‘The Australian Federal Parliament and The Speaker’s Chair’, Furniture History (2001).