Lucraft, G. S. & Son (1871-1889)
Lucraft, G. S. & Son
London; upholsterers, cabinet makers, chair and sofa makers (fl.1871-89)
Described by Agius as a ‘reputable’ maker who supplied West End furnishing shops, George Lucraft was recorded at 161 Kingsland Road, London in the London Post Office Directory 1871. The same publication also listed George Sealy Lucraft at 2 Mary Street, New North Road. By 1876 they were at 34 Worship Street, Finsbury Square [The Furniture Gazette Directory, 1876 & 1877].
G. S. Lucraft, jnr. of the firm at 79 City Road, was elected vestryman of No. 1 Ward in St Luke’s Parish [The Furniture Gazette, 28 May 1881]. In July 1882 G. S. Lucraft [not stated whether snr. or jnr.] was elected a representative vestryman of the joint parochial charities of St Giles, Cripplegate and St Luke’s [The Furniture Gazette, 15 July 1882]. The firm was recorded in the Furniture Gazette Classified List of the Furniture, Upholstery and Allied Trades, 1886, as Art Furniture Manufacturers and Merchants, and Cabinet, Chair and Couch Makers at 79 City Road, Tabernacle Row; Park Place, Cowper Street; and 161 Kingsland Road, London.
At the 1878 Paris Exhibition G. S. Lucraft displayed a cabinet in satinwood inlaid with other woods (illus. Meyer (2006), p. 259), an American walnut, other cabinets and various chairs in Sheraton, Chippendale and French styles, a corner chair and a combination nursery chair/perambulator/toy waggon, patented by the designer, Mr Benn. Two Chippendale style tables at the Exhibition were sold to Princess Mathilde [The Furniture Gazette, 7 September 1878].
The firm also participated in the Furniture Trades Exhibition, Agricultural Hall, London, 1884, with a display of Chippendale, Sheraton and Queen Anne style furniture, described as ‘of exceptional merit’ [The Furniture Gazette, 10 May 1884]. A chair from the dining set and a cabinet are illustrated [The Furniture Gazette, 17 May 1884].
They also exhibited at the Furniture Trades Exhibition, 1885 [The Furniture Gazette, 1 June 1885] and at the Edinburgh International Exhibition, 1886, where the firm was awarded a silver medal diploma for its inlaid furniture [The Furniture Gazette, 1 December 1886].
The Furniture Gazette recorded several commissions of the firm; tables for the schools in Mitcham, of which the payment of £47 10s was disputed by Holborn Guardians [21 October 1882]; and the contract for residential and office furniture for The Admiralty, January 1885-December 1889 [13 December 1889].
Sources: Agius, British Furniture 1880-1915 (1978); Meyer, Great Exhibitions. London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia. 1851-1900 (2006).
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Ornamentation/Design