Skynner, Thomas, Broad St, Hereford, cm(?) (1778). In June 1778 advertised a raffle for a curious piece of furniture which he claimed to have made. This was a ‘CABINET EAGLE, with 5 private drawers in its breast, one set with diamonds, topazes, rubies and other valuable stones. It stands between two book-cases upon a bureau, with a serpentine front.… The escutcheon on the breast of the Eagle is made to prevent any person from picking the lock, it being made by so peculiar a method, that no person can move it off the keyhole but the person shuts it up, even though they have seen it opened’. The piece of furniture was valued by Skynner at £63 and tickets were offered at £1 1s. The number of persons prepared to purchase tickets was perhaps not as great as anticipated as the period for sale had to be extended beyond 7 July on which date it was previously announced that the draw would take place. [Hereford Journal, 18 June 1778]