Pryer, Steains & Mackenzie

30 Brydges St, Covent Garden, London; cabinet maker and upholder (1810–37)

The Pryer appears to have been George Pryer who in 1803 subscribed to Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary. George Pryer and James Steains were already established in Brydges St by 15 August 1810 when they took out insurance cover of £1,100 of which £800 was in respect of utensils and stock. Half of the value of these items was at Brydges St and the other half at a workshop that they used in Denham St, Little Drury Lane. By February 1812 they had been joined by John Mackenzie, and insurance cover had risen to £1,900 of which £1,200 covered utensils and stock at 30 Brydges St and two houses behind, also in Little Drury Lane. By 1817 James Steaines had withdrawn from the business and it traded from this date as Pryer & Mackenzie. By 1837 John Mackenzie had also ceased his involvement, and George Pryer was trading alone. As with a number of other makers in this part of London they were strongly involved in the making and marketing of ‘patent’ furniture. They could offer ‘Patent Brass Screw Bedsteads, Sofa & Chair Beds, Dining Tables, Sideboards &c.’. In common with other ‘patent’ furniture makers they labelled the furniture they produced. Two beds and a library writing table (illus. Gilbert (1996), figs 756-757) have been recorded with labels. The label on the writing table is printed ‘Pryer & Mackenzie, UPHOLSTERERS & CABINET MAKERS. N^o. 30 BRIDGE STREET, Catherine Street, Strand, LONDON. Funerals and Appraising’. In April 1816 they supplied the 6th Duke of Bedford with six strongly made beech chairs for his stables at a cost of £2 5s. [GL, Sun MS vol. vol. 453, ref. 846979; vol. 459, ref. 867633; V&A archives; Bedford Office, London].

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