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Stock no: 100 132
A late Victorian / Edwardian beech & elm Smoker’s Bow elbow chair with maker’s stamp to the rear – the Goodearl family from High Wycombe.
28”w x 32”h x 19 ½”d
71cm w x 82h x 50d
Circa 1900
£245
WILLIAM GOODEARL, born in 1811, was a Windsor Chair maker and commenced business on his own account in 1870 at premises in Dovehouse Mead, High Wycombe. By 1875 he was listed in a local directory as a Chair Manufacturer at West End Road.
Four of his sons, Henry (b.1838), Richard (b.1843), Benjamin (b.1849) and Arthur (b.1851) were all working within the furniture trade. Henry, at Dovehouse Mead, was a cane seat framer. Richard at 7 Water Lane, Newland. Benjamin, a benchman, was at 11 Oxford Road. Arthur at 20 Mendy Street was also a cane seat framer.
By 1887, the brothers appear to have joined forces at Mendy Street and during the next decade strengthened their position as High Wycombe chair manufacturers.
In 1894 Richard Goodearl was Mayor of High Wycombe.
 Richard Goodearl
By J.P.Starling,
Artist & Photographer
Frogmore Studio,
Frogmore Gardens, High Wycombe.
1903 saw A.E.Barnes joining the company as a carver. He was to play an important role in the Company as a designer, and eventually became its Chairman.
At this time machinery was being introduced to an ever increasing extent. A Timber Yard and Sawmill were working, and other factories were also being supplied with plank and sawn parts.
Richard became head of the firm, with two of his sons, Albert and Percy, working with him. The eldest son, George, had emigrated to Australia and was manufacturing bedding in Sydney after a short time of importing furniture from Wycombe.
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