Del Vecchio, James, snr and jnr. also Vecchio and Co.

Dublin, Ireland & London; print seller, manufacturer of plaster of Paris and looking glasses, (fl. 1797-1859)

James Del Vecchio is said to have come from Maltrasio (Como) in Italy.

Del Vecchio & Co of Dublin was listed from 1797-1803 as foreign print seller at 67 South Great Georges Street. He and his son James jnr. carried on business in 1804 at 1 Westmorland Street. 1805; at 2 Westmorland Street (1806); later at 26 Westmorland Street and 6 D’Olier Street, Dublin. In 1810 the firm became Del Vecchio J at the same address. In 1818 also described as ’Plaister of Paris Manufacturer’.

A trade label on the back of a miniature frame reads ‘Print, Looking Glass, STATUARY, plaister of Paris & Roman Cement Manufacturer to his Majesty George IV, and to the Board of or Works, DEL VECCHIO, 26 Westmorland Street, and 188 and 187 Great Brunswick Street. Where the greatest variety of Prints, Pier, Chimney, Dressing Glasses, Mirrors &c. &c. are Manufactured in the neatest manner, and on the most Reduced terms...’.

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A bill head for Jas Del Vecchio ‘Print Seller and Looking Glass Manufacturer. To his Most Gracious Majesty George 4th and Honble Board of Works. Manufacturer of Plaister of Paris and Roman Cement’. Receipt reads to 'Blake Esqr July 22 1830 For ornamented gilt frame £1 10s Paid' Signed Jas Del Vecchio [Irish Craftsmen, V&A: Department of Furniture, Textiles & Fashion].

The business also had a London showroom/workshop, c. 1810-25. A collection of Del Vecchio lithographic prints, 1820s, at the National Army Museum (https://collection.nam.ac.uk/) record this London address and Dublin. Likewise a stamped mahogany wall stick barometer, c. 1810.  

In 1833 Dell Vecchio James, jnr at 15 Lower Abbey Street, looking glass manufacturer and frame maker. 1834-35 at 17 Lr Abbey Street described as ‘Carver and Gilder, Manufacturer of Plaister of Paris, Roman Cement &c.’ In 1834 also at 200 Great Brunswick Street. 1835-41, Del Vecchio, J., 26 Westmorland Street and 186, 187, Great Brunswick Street, print seller and plaister of Paris manufactory. 1836-44, at 69 Dame Street.

In 1842 described as print-seller and statuary, ornament and chimney-top man. 1845 also at 200 Great Brunswick Street. 1845-47 at 56 Dame Street. James snr died 1847.

1848-50 at Great Brunswick Street only. James Dell Vecchio, James at 57 Charlemont Street in 1851 advertises statuary. A label on the back of a miniature gives addresses as 26 Westmorland St, and 187–88 Gt Brunswick St, and reads, ‘PRINT, LOOKING-GLASS, STATUARY, PLAISTER OF PARIS, & ROMAN CEMENT MANUFACTURER, TO HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE IV AND TO THE BOARD OF WORKS’ (1831). It also states that he makes and sells the ‘greatest variety of Prints, Pier, Chimney, Dressing Glasses, Mirrors’. George IV marble-topped and mirror-backed side table, with pierced vine-frieze and eagle monopodia legs; back signed in bold script, ‘Del Vecchio, Westmorland St, 5 February 1831’.

The Minute Books for 1811 for the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham record that James Del Vecchio was paid £5 13s 9d for the work of gilding and cleaning pictures. A giltwood and composition pier glass and table at Glin Castle, Co. Limerick, bears James Del Vecchio’s trade label (illus. Glin & Peill (2007), fig. 260). A trade label of J. Del Vecchio Junr. lists "Chimney, Pier and Toilet Glasses Ready made or to order, to any size or pattern. Old Looking-Glasses Polished and Re-silvered or taken in exchange. GILDING. Window Cornices, Room Bordering, Pier Tables, Picture Frames of every denomination at reduced prices...”

A James del Vecchio snr’s obituary appeared in the New York Evening Post on 6 June 1847. James’s arrival in New York from Dublin, along with J. Corti and Donegani & Co., was advertised in The Daily Advertiser, 24 September 1800. The relationship between this James and James snr and jnr of Dublin is unclear.

Presumably the father and brother of Francis Del Vecchio 

Source: DEFM; Glin, ‘Dublin Directories and Trade Labels’, Furniture History (1985); van Cott, ‘The Del Vecchios of New York’, Furniture History (1989); Glin & Peill, Irish Furniture (2007), pp. 193-4.