Furniture Design Ideas

A Masonic Master’s chair (fig. 49) signed by Ben­jamin Buck trout gives an undisputed look at high quality carved furniture produced in the I lay shop.’1’ Details of this signed chair have an affinity to those of the preceding three pieces, not an unex­pected development considering Bucktrout’s asso­ciation with I lay and his eventual ownership […]

Furniture Attributed to Hay As w ith Peter Scott’s work, no signed or labeled furniture made by Hay is know n. Significant evi­dence concerning his shop’s production, however, is garnered from important pieces w ith Williamsburg histories, from archaeological excavation of the I lay shop site, and from the physical evidence presented by Bucktrout’s signed […]

F. dmund Dickinson is first associated with the I lay shop in a Gazette daybook entry of August 7, 1764; on that date he picked up miscellaneous items for 1 lay at the newspaper office. Dickinson’s exact position in the shop at that time is unclear, but the long-held assumption that he w as an […]

I forewarn all Persons from harbouring him, and Masters of Vessels from carrying him out of the country.30 Bucktrout, like I lay, expanded his business beyond his craft. After moving from the I lay shop, he operated a retail store where he offered upholstery services and materials, and sold general merchan­dise. Like Hay’s venture at […]

Proposes carrying on the business of cabinet making, at the house where Mr. Pelham now lives. Any of those Gentlemen who have been customers to Bucktrout and Kennedy*, and all other who please to employ him, may rely on his best endeavours to give satisfaction. *1 le has no intention to rob Mr. Bucktrout of […]

I lay’s new business as proprietor of the Raleigh Tavern was an important move and reflects the tendency of successful eighteenth-century artisans to step into the realm of the business and mercantile community. An interesting analysis of I lay’s new venture and of its dependence upon his previous success has been made by Mills Brown […]

The earliest document concerning Anthony Hay in Williamsburg is found in the Virginia Gazette daybook of 1750-52. On July 27, 1751, Hay pur­chased a copy of Compleate Housewife and in the following month he bought stationery, a slate, and pencils. From that point on, I lay kept a running account for similar items and books. […]

The career of Peter Scott (1694-1775) spanned five decades and is distinguished as the longest of any Williamsburg cabinetmaker. I le is first documented in the town during 1722 and had established his shop on the south side of Duke of Gloucester Street, opposite Bruton Parish Church, by 1733.’ Little is known of his early […]