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Harding, Arthur (1886)

Harding, Arthur

Bethnal Green, London; cabinet maker (b.1886)

Born in Bethnal Green in 1886, Arthur Harding was a cabinet maker, street trader and a wardrobe dealer. His father had been a maker of overmantels. In 1907 Arthur Harding started in partnership with Bill Saville, who was experienced in making cheap china cabinets. Their first workshop was behind the Red Cross pub in Hare Street, later renamed Cheshire Street; the rent for the workshop was 5s a week. The two partners employed one man. After the pub was sold they moved to Cotton’s Gardens, off Kingsland Road, opposite Drysdale Street. The building was a warehouse for the boot trade and they took the basement at 15s per week. Apparently the partners neither paid the rent nor their timber supplier. At this time the firm’s speciality was ‘Louis’ cabinets and they employed four to six makers, a couple of polishers, and Harding’s brother in law, Mr Gibbs, who was a carver and employed when required. The polishers, Sam and Mary Holloway, were paid 5s 6d for polishing of each cabinet. When completed the cabinets were sold to a warehouse in Curtain Road. They cost 27/28s to produce and were sold to the warehouse at 32s. However, when selling to retail shops the price was 40s per cabinet, on sale or return basis. They also made overmantels, often with stained wood, which were sold at 10s each. The business in Cotton’s Gardens only lasted several months and then they moved close to Gibralter Gardens, Bethnal Green. 

Source: Kirkham, Mace, Porter, Furnishing the World.  The East London Furniture Trade 1830-1980 (1987).