James, Edwin

Art Work Shops, 4 Bruton Street, New Bond Street, London; artistic decorator, cabinet maker, carver, gilder, upholsterer and frame maker (fl.1891-1907)

Image

Copyright (Attribution/Credit)

NMS

A bill (above) dated 1900 for E. James, is included in The Graham Gadd Archive (NMS). The reverse of this document gives a quote from The World, 27 December 1893, which states that James was making 'lovely' photograph frames, made of 'old brocades, with carved, gilt edges' for the Duchess of York and the Duchess of Teck.

Edwin James was recorded as carver and gilder at 4 Bruton Street in the 1910 London Street Postal Directory. Census list James (b.1846) in the same trade at Bruton Street 1891 and in 1901 as a fine art dealer living in Maida Vale, where he died in 1907 (personal effects for probate valued at over £32,000). The 1901 census shows that Edwin's two sons, Alexander and Thomas, both worked in their father's business, so probably took over after his death.

Source: Graham Gadd Archive (NMS).