- Header
- Elizabeth Bell & Son
- Also known as
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Elizabeth Bell & Son
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primary name: Elizabeth Bell & Son
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other name: Bell, Elizabeth
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other name: Bell, Henry
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other name: Bell, Philip
- Details
- organisation; cabinet-maker; British
- Other dates
- 1740-1774 (fl. c.)
- Address
- at the White Swan against the South Gate in St. Paul's Churchyard, London
- Biography
- Seven trade cards in Heal Collection. Heal,28.10 is a photograph of a trade card in "Antique News", March 29th, 1930. The card advertises "Elizabeth Bell & Son...Makes and Sells all Sorts of ye finest Cabinet Goods, all sorts of Looking Glasses, Coach Glasses & Chairs of all sorts, at Reasonable Rates. N.B. Old Glasses new Worked & made up Fashionable." Heal,28.11 is a photograph of a trade card with the same advertisement as above. Heal,28.12, another photograph, has the same advertisement as above. Heal's annotations on mount: "Elizabeth Bell - widow and successor of Henry Bell at above address. The son, her partner, is assumed to be Philip Bell who succeeded to the business 1768-74." Heal,28.13, another photograph, has the same advertisement as above. Heal,28.14 is a trade card of Henry Bell with the same advertisement as above. Heal's annotations on mount: "1694 Mr. Hayes, upholsterer, White Swan on S. side of St Paul's Ch. Yd. See H-P's 'Signs of St P's ch. yd. Compare photograph of the card in the Banks Collection of Philip Bell, cabinet maker at above address ? circa 1760. 1768 Directory gives Philip Bell at No. 23 St. Paul's Churchyard. The Dictionary of Furniture mentions a card of Coxed & Wosilk [sic], actually G. Coxed & T. Woster - at this address. A card in the Broadley (Leverhulme) Collection of Elizabeth Bell & Son at the same address. A copy of the card of Elizabeth Bell & Son was found in a card table in America & illustrated in the American magazine "Antique News", 29 March, 1930 (see cutting A.H. coll.). See photograph in A.H. collection of a trade-card of 'Henry Kettle, successor to Mr. Philip Bell at No. 23 St. Paul's Churchyard. See also London Directories from 1777-1796 for him at this address. 1774 L. Directory gives 'Hen. Kettle cabinet maker 18 St. Paul's Churchyard." Heal,28.15 advertises "Philip Bell Cabinet Maker and Upholder...N.B. Funerals Performed." Heal's annotations on mount: "No. 23 St. Paul's Churchyard. See entry in 1768 Directory of Philip Bell, is shown in Horwood's Plan of London on the South side of St. Paul's Churchyard next door but one to Black Swan Alley a little to the East of Paul's Chain which faced the South door of the Cathedral. Hilton Price in Signs of S. Paul's Churchyard [L.T.R. Vol III] reproduces this card & gives White Swan - 1589-1602 Ralph Jackson, bookseller - successor to Dewes. White Swan - 1602 Cuthbert Burby, bookseller. White Swan - 1694 Mr. Hayes, upholsterer. White Swan - 1700 (!) Philip Bell, cabinet maker ?correct see above date 1788 & engravers signature. Matt. Darly engraver of this card fl: 1770-'90." There are further notes which are the same as those of Heal,28.14. Heal,28.16 advertises "Elizabeth Bell" with the same description of services as the cards of Elizabeth Bell & Son. Heal's annotations on mount repeat the above information. Trade card in Banks Collection (D,2.1266) is identical to Heal,28.15, described above.