Rannie, James

St Martin's Lane, London, upholder and cabinet maker (fl. 1754–d.1766)

Jamie Rannie was Thomas Chippendale's first partner and put up capital to finance an expansion of the business following publication of the Director in 1754. They signed a joint lease on spacious premises in St Martin's Lane in August 1754 and issued a trade card [Westminster City Libraries] about this time.

In the subscription list to Chippendale's Director he is described as ‘cabinet-maker’ and in his will [The National Archive (TNA), Prob. 11/915 c/7021, p. 255] referred to himself as ‘upholder and cabinet-maker’, but his contribution was probably mainly as a financier and accountant, there being little evidence that he possessed practical knowledge of furniture crafts.

In 1758 ‘Rannie & Co. Upholders’ received a premium of £42 for taking John Burrows as an apprentice for 7 years. He owned property in East Lothian and was related to the wine dealers Bell & Rannie of Leith, while his brother Thomas (with whom he owned a share in the ship John & James) was a prosperous Edinburgh merchant — these contacts doubtless explain the firm's early success in attracting Scottish customers.

Rannie died in 1766 and was buried in St Martin's Church. His widow was left £200 p.a. for life and small legacies included £100 ‘to my Book-Keeper Thomas Haig’. Rannie's estate took at least 5 years to wind up and the dissolution of the partnership brought Chippendale to the verge of bankruptcy. 

By Christopher Gilbert

Source: DEFM