Williams Wiseman, William James

Somerset, London, Surrey; carver, gilder and decorator of furniture (fl.1881-1920)

William Wiseman, later called William Williams, was born 21 March 1867 in Bath. His father, James Wiseman, was a carver and gilder, and the 1881 census records William working in his father’s trade as an assistant. By 1891 he was working as a carver, gilder and restorer in Leicester, where he married later that year. In 1901 he was living with his young family at 55 Trinity Road, Streatham/Balham, where he worked as a picture frame maker, and then as carver and gilder in 1921.  
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W. Williams (active 1922), probably the above William, is recorded as the lacquer maker and decorator of a miniature cabinet, the original at Londonderry House, which was presented to Queen Mary by the Marchioness of Londonderry in May 1922 (RCIN 230974) for the Dolls’ House. There is some furniture, painted and gilded, at Mount Stewart (the Londonderry seat) which bear the mark of William Williams, Balham. It is believed that he worked with his daughter on this furniture.  

William Williams was living in Cookham, Berkshire working as picture restorer and decorator in 1939.  His only daughter, an artist, was Winifred Drusilla Mary, b. 24 August 1892 Leicestershire, d. 26 October 1982 Okehampton, Devon. Electoral roll 1955 lists her living at 15/17 Hornton Street, Kensington.