Lot Essay
In 1784, John Elliott, Jr. joined his father's mirror-selling business. John Elliott, Jr. had already developed a business of selling paints, grains, and medicines before adding his father's wares to his inventory. The label on this mirror not only gives Elliott's address but also describes the variety of items his shop sold. The inscription reads, "JOHN ELLIOTT, Jun'r/No. 60 South Front Street, between Chesnut and Walnut-Streets PHILADELPHIA Hath for sale a general assortment of DRUGS and MEDICINES Sage, Pearl Barley, Oatmeal, Spices, & LOOKING GLASSES, with and without Frames, WINDOW GLASS of most Sizes, and large Glass for Clocks, Samplers, & also, COACH GLASSES; SPECTACLES; BRUSHES of most Sorts, PAINTERS' COLOURS dry and mixed for Use Boiled Oil, Spirits of Turpentine, Var- nish of divers Sorts, Putty, Painter's Tools, and Camel's Hair Penors, Leaf-Gold and Silver, Black lead and Sand Crucibles, Pearl . /N.B. LOOKING GLASSES new Quicksilvered and Frames." Additional inscription "1/20 1812 Sam. Nichols [illegible] Wilmington" appears above label. See Antiques (April 1967), pp. 514-517. See also lots 171 and 189.