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Quitmann, J.; Quitmann & Co. (1886-1914)

Quitmann, J.; Quitmann & Co.

London; furniture makers (fl.1876-c.1914)

Quitmann & Co. was listed as cabinet makers at 19 Castle Street, Falcon Square in 1876 and moved to 134 Queen Victoria Street in 1877 [The Furniture Gazette Directory, 1876; The Furniture Gazette Directory, 1877]. The Furniture Gazette Directory, 1877, listed them as makers of bentwood furniture listed them as makers of bentwood furniture.

In late 1883 they advertised their patent roll screen which was designed to partition off areas of a room or divide rooms [The Furniture Gazette, 3 November 1883].

In 1884 Quitmann & Co were at 132 Queen Victoria Street when taken to court by B. Strode for repayment of £26 12, the price paid for 106 chairs which had proved unfit for purpose. Strode acted on behalf of a church in Cranborne, for which he was churchwarden. Julius & Otto Quitmann both gave evidence that the church was damp and that unseasoned wood had been used for the chairs. The commissioner gave judgement for the defendants but gave the plaintiffs leave to set it aside and have the case tried by a jury [The Furniture Gazette, 29 March 1884].

By 1885 Quitmann had the telegraphic address of ‘Ottenst, London’ and their address in Queen Victoria Street was also used by Saxon Wood Industrial Co.’s London depot for bentwood furniture [The Furniture Gazette, 21 February & 1 December 1885]. 

J. Quitmann & Co. was recorded in The Furniture Gazette: Classified List of the Furniture, Upholstery, and Allied Trades (1886) as bent wood furniture importers at 132 Queen Victoria Street.

The firm of E. & O. Quitmann was mentioned in the London Illustrated News c.1915 as specialists in bentwood furniture of every description including chairs, hall stands and roll top desks.

Source:  Department of Furniture, Textiles & Fashion Department files, V&A.