Godfrey, Richard

London, upholder and cabinet maker (1762–1811).

Son of Richard Godfrey of Brockall, Northants., grazier. App. to William Adams, 13 June 1755, and free by servitude, 13 June 1762. Not recorded in trade directories until 1781 when he was at New Palace Yd, Westminster. He seems to have used these premises until 1804 when on 3 October they were destroyed by fire. From 1790 however he had been using an additional address in Union St, Westminster. The fire may well have been the cause of another move and in January 1805 he was at 66 Millbank St, Westminster. Here he took out insurance cover for £1,300 of which utensils and stock amounted to £200, the main item covered being household goods valued at £1,000. He was included in the list of master cabinet makers in Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary, 1803. He is probably the maker who supplied Lady Cotton of Madingley Hall, Cambs., with a camp stool costing 8s 6d in November 1802. A brass inlaid rosewood centre table is recorded signed ‘RD. Godfroy’ (illus. Gilbert (1996) fig. 400). [GL, Upholders’ Co. records; Sun MS vol. 319, p. 227; vol. 431, ref. 772287; Gents Mag., October 1804; Cambs. RO, 588/A45; C. Life, 18 January 1962, p. 107; Sotheby's, 3 June 1977, lot 151

Source; DEFM; Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840 (1996).