Dr Joseph posted on January 07, 2011 23:40
Ince & Mayhew (William & John)
About the middle of the eighteenth century trade pattern-books came strongly into favour as a means of advertisement,profitable to the promoters and convenient for their public. 'The Universal System of Household Furniture' is in order of appearance, the second comprehensive collection of designs for domestic furniture engraved by: Mathius Darley
to be published in England. Issued in parts by the 2 cabinet-makers and partners:William Ince and :John Mayhew, between 1759 and 1762, the work was obviously intended to rival :Thomas Chippendale's, The Gentleman & Cabinetmakers Director, 1754, of which the third edition was also appearing serially during that same period.For information about the partners and the genesis of: The Universal System of Household Furniture' please see its Preface. as there designs were much simpler than: The Director, Ince & Mayhew flurished into a very large firm, emplying 400 in Total. They became more famous ? Then than: Thomas Chippendale, Note:That one of my Ansesters, a : Samuel Heminway, had to pay: Ince & Mayhew? £210 to be indetured ,while Chippendale was still charging just £20.
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