s Table by G.L. Feetam, Trinity House Lane, Hull, c.1860-1870 - Hull Museums Collections

Table by G.L. Feetam, Trinity House Lane, Hull, c.1860-1870

The rich, dark wood used to make this table is called mahogany. Mahogany was one of the hardwoods shipped to Hull from South and Central America for furniture making. The design of this table shows clearly that it was intended to stand against a wall. Its straight back edge and plain back legs contrast with the wavy front and ornately carved front legs. The decoration of these areas was more important as they would have been much more noticeable. This table was made by George Leonard Feetam. George was probably the son of Thomas Feetam, who was a furniture maker at 5 Trinity House Lane, Hull. In 1861 George took over his father’s workshop. G.L. Feetam is listed in the 1861 Hull trade directory, the old-fashioned equivalent of the Yellow Pages. The directory describes him as a cabinet maker, upholsterer, undertaker and plate glass maker. It was common for small furniture makers to practise other trades to support themselves. Many furniture makers used their carpentry skills to make coffins. Hull was an important regional centre for furniture making in the 1700s and 1800s. The town’s success was founded on its role as a timber port. Imports of wood from northern Europe and the Baltic had been part of Hull’s commerce for centuries. By the 1600s, Hull was second only to London as a timber port. The availability of timber in Hull encouraged furniture makers to settle there in the 1700s. This in turn changed Hull’s timber trade. From the early 1720s mahogany for furniture making had been shipped to London from Jamaica, Cuba and Honduras. It was difficult to buy mahogany in Hull, with most consignments coming north from London via the coastal trade. From the 1770s increasing demand for mahogany from local cabinet makers encouraged Hull merchants to import it directly. These merchants traded mahogany throughout Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and parts of Derbyshire. Trade was carried out via the network of waterways flowing into the Humber. Purchased by Hull Museums with assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund.