Lot 131
131
TWO INK ON PAPER BILLS OF SALE

Details
TWO INK ON PAPER BILLS OF SALE
PHILADELPHIA, DATED SEPTEMBER 27, 1770 AND JANUARY 31, 1795

The first delineating and charging for services rendered by Daniel Trotter to Samuel Wallace, including the cost of a picture frame, cleaning and polishing a tea table, planing and polishing a dining table, and the cost of a pair of window blinds, canvas tapes included; the second a bill of sale dated 31 January 1795, to Wallace from John B. Ackley, to an oval Chair--4in. high, 7¾in. wide (2)

Lot Essay

Daniel Trotter (d. 1800) was a cabinetmaker in Philadelphia whose shop was in Elfreth's Alley. Working ultimately with his son-in-law, Ephraim Haines, the two are best known for their production of pretzel-back chairs.

John Brietnall Ackley, also in Philadelphia, is best known as a maker of Windsor chairs on Front Street after 1790. The "oval back Chair" referred to in Ackley's bill may refer to the type of bamboo-turned balloon-back chair Ackely is known to have made.

See Bjerkoe, The Cabinetmakers of America (NY, 1957) p. 19 and 220.