PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE

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3 THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE OP HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY. VOL. LIV No. 4 BENJAMIN LEHMAN, A GERMANTOWN CABINET- MAKER By HARROLD E. GILLINGHAM In these days when authenticated pieces of antique furniture bring such enormous prices at auction sales, one naturally thinks of the original cost to the purchaser thereof. Few, if any, written records of our early Philadelphia cabinet-makers have been preserved; and it is only from bills and account books, scarce enough to the student of the subject, that we obtain any information whatever. There being few of these obtainable, one is naturally pleased to find in the manuscript files of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Price List of an eighteenth century joiner-craftsman, working in Germantown during the last quarter of the eighteenth century. We read that the early settlers of Ye German Town made much of their own furniture when they founded that district; and as they followed their various occupations and prospered in life, it is reasonable to assume that the earlier articles for household use were discarded, to be replaced by furniture made of walnut, which was plentiful, or of mahogany, brought to Philadelphia by the numerous vessels trading with the West Indian ports. They might have had Chairs with covered seats of damask and Paduasoy (a heavy silk fabric imported from Padua in Northern Italy). VOL. LIV

4 290 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker That Benjamin Lehman was a craftsman in the cabinet-making field seems to be undisputed from the evidence here produced. Space prevents the reproduction of all pages of this most interesting manuscript price list of Lehman's cabinet-work. It has been thought best to include herewith the entire contents, so that students of the subject may see the various items of furniture which he was apparently prepared to produce. It must also be borne in mind that these prices are given in Pennsylvania currency and not in sterling. The United States had not established the present monetary system in From other records it is found the pound of that period was worth about two dollars and sixty-six cents of our currency. Judging by this book of prices, and from the variety and character of his offerings, Benjamin Lehman apparently produced furniture of the best grade. PRICES OF CABINET & CHAIR WORK Binjamin Lehman January 1786, N.B. The First Column is of Mahogany the Second of Walnut, and Third the Journeymans Wages DESKS Mohogany Wallnut Jurnyman S d S d S d Desk winged Dito with Skolloped Drawrs below and Shell drawers obove D with Collumns, Drawers, & Slid- D ing Prospects D with Collumn Drawers D with two rows of Skolloped Drawers D with a Prospect & Swelled Brackets D without a Prospect & Straight Brackets Note Add for Quater Columns 10 Shillings

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8 294 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker BOOK-CASES Mohogany Wallnut Jurnyman S d S d S d Book Case with Scroll pedimt head & Door's Pannel D with Dentils and Fret D Square Head, Pannels or Sash Door's with Sliding Shelves only D Pitch pediment without Din 1, on fret and Plain Balls D with Dintils, fret, and Shield D with Arch Doors D with Skolloped Doors D with Chinese Doors Book Case with Scroll pediment head and Chinese Doors Add for Quater Columns 20 Shillings N.B. the the above Doors are without Gleasing Carv'd work not to exceed 25 Shillins. HIGH CHEST OF DRAWEES Chest on a Frame head and Corners and Plain Feet A Table to Suit Ditto Ditto. Chest on Chest and SwellM Brackets Tables Sutt Ditto D Dra ers : on a Frame Clawfeet & quater Colu ns A Table to suit D D Drawers Chest on Chest and Swelled Brackets o O A Table to Suit D Drawers Pitch pediment Head Square Corners Plain feet without dentils or fret Plain Ball _ o O A Table to Suit D D Drawers Chest on Chest A Table to suit D with straight Brack: o D Drawers with Quarter Columns A Table to suit D D Drawers on a frame and Claw feet A Table to suit D _ 5 o 1 5 o D Drawers with Dent 1 fret & Shield

9 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker 295 Mahogany S d A Table to suit D D Drawers Chest on Chest A Table to suit D Chest on a Frame Claw feet leaves on the knees and Shell Drawers in the Frame A Table to suit D Ditto Drawers Scroll Pedim*. head Carved-work not to Exceed Table to suit D D Drawers Chest on Chest, a Table D Add for a Desk Drawer to any of the above Draw": 3 Wallnut S d o O 4 o O Jurnyman S d o O o O LOW CHEST OF DRAWERS Low Chest of Drawers with 3 long & 5 Small D r I D with 4 long & 5 small Dr a »-15 0 D on Frame 18 Inches high without a Drawer O CHAIRS WITH CROOKED LEGS Chair with Plain feet & Banister with leather Bottoms Arm D D without through Banister CHAIRS Arm D D, with Claw feet Arm D D with Shells on the Knees & Front Rail, Arm D, D with Leaves on the Knees Arm D, D for fluting or ogee Backs Arm D, For relieving the Banisters add according to the worth of them For extraordinary Carved work add in Porportion work For Damask Bottoms add 2 Shi 1,.. For Hair 2s 6 d Add to any arm chair nade for a Close Stool with a cover to the pan framed 7 s 6 d D not framed 5 Shillings 0 2 6

10 296 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker CHAIRS, MARYBOROUGH FEET, Mohogany Wallnut Jumyman Chairs plain open Banisters with S d S d S d Bases or Brackets with Leather Bottoms Arm D D with fluted or ogee Backs bases & Brackets Arm D D Add for releving the Banister and for Damask or hair Bottoms or Close as in the Crook leg Chairs For any Chair as above Stuffed over the rails & Brass nails add 8 Shillings For fluted or ogee Back feet add to the Journeman CORNER CHAIRS FOR CLOSE STOOLS Corner Chair plain Feet and Banister D Claw feet and open Banister Corner Chairs with the upper part the Legs work* Crooked For Commode front Add EASY CHAIRS, Easy Chair frame plain feet and knees without Casters D with Claw feet D with Claw feet and Leaves on the Knees D Marlborough Feet Bases & Brackets CHAIR FRAME, Chair frame for Stuffing over back and Feet with Marlborough Feet D Arm D Folding Cabbin Chair frame for Stuffing D Stools D of Oak Add for Brackets to any Chair and Bases to any Chair Aand for Carved Mouldings

11 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker 297 SUFFAS MARLBOUROTTGH FEET Mohogany Suffa plain feet and Rails without S d Casters D with Bases and Brackets D with a fret on the feet D with a fret on the Feet & Rails and Carved Mouldings Wallnut S d Jurnyman S d SUFFAS WITH CROOKED LEGS Suffa plain feet and Knees without Casters Claw feet Suffa D with Leaves on the Knees Add for Casters 10 Shillings D with Carved Mouldings _- 5 o SETEES, Setees plain Crooked Legs feet & Banisters without Casters with hair or Damask Bottoms D Marlborough with bases and Brackets cut through banisters D with Claw feet & Knees Carved D with fluted or ogee Baks Add for Carved Mouldings 20 S & to the Jour : COUCHES WITH CROOKED LEGS, Couch frame plain Knees feet & Banisters without bottoms or casters D with Claw feet & open Banister D with leaves on the Knees D with fluted or ogee Backs D with Marlborough feet without bases or Brackets D with Bases and Brackets D, with fluted or ogee Backs Add for Carved Mouldings 20 S, add to the Jorneymans Wages DINING TABLES Dining Table plain feet Crooket or Marlbeorough with Bases 3 feet in the Boad D 3 feet 6 Inches

12 298 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker Mohogany Wallnut Jurnyman S d S d S d D 4 Feet D 4 feet 6 Inches D 5 Feet 6 Inches with 6 Legs For Tables with Claw feet add 2S 6 d per Claw For Tables with Straight legs without bases Deduct 5S & 3S in y Journ y, wages CARD TABLES WITH CROOKED LEGS Card Tables plain feet & Knees D with Claw feet D with Carved Knees and Mouldings Add for Coviring without finding the Cloth 7S. 6d & to the Journeymans Wages for sinking the Top CARD TABLES WITH MARLBOROUGH FEET Card Table with a Drawer with out bases or Brackets D with bases and Brackets D with Carved Mouldings Add for the Tops 10S & to the Jorney": wages CARD TABLES WITH ROUND CORNERS Claw feet & plain Knees D lined with Green Cloth D leaves on the Knees & Carv'd Mouldings D with Carved Rails PEMBROKE OR BREAKFAST TABLES Breakfast Tables plain D with a Drawer Breakfast Table with Bases & Brackets D with a plain Stretcher, D with open Stretcher & low Drawers D with Crooked Legs and plain Feet D with Claw feet Add for Scolloping the Top 4S & to the Jour. o 2 0

13 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker 299 CORNER TABLES Mohogany Wallnut Jurnyman S d S d S d Corner Table/" Crooked Legs or Marlbourough feet with Bases 3 feet Square D Claw Feet TEA TABLES Plain Top & feet Plain Tea Table with Claw feet D Leaves on the Knees D Scollop'd Top & Carv'd Billar Add for fluting the pillar 5 S, & to the Jor n FOLDING STANDS Stand 22 inches Diameter with a box plain Top and feet D plain Top and Claw feet D with Leaves on the Knees D fixed 18 Inches Diameter Add for fluting the Pillar as at the Tea Table SIDE BOARD TABLES Side Board Table with Bases & Brackets 6 feet by 2 feet 6 Inches D 5 feet by 2 feet 6 Inches Do 5 feet by 2 fe/6 In Do 4 feet by 2 Fe 6 In Do 3 feet 6 inches by 2 Fe 3 I Add for Carved Mouldings 2 Shilling per foot for fret round the Rails 5 Shillings per foot and to Jorneymans wages TEA KETTLE STANDS Tea kettle Sand with Gallery Top & plain feet Do with Claw feet Leaves on the knees Carved & fluted, Pillar with Turned Banister Bason Stand with 3 pillers & 2 Drawers Do Square and tow Drawers

14 300 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker SQUARE TEA TABLES Mohogany Wallnut Jumyman Tea Table square top plain feet & S d S d S d Rails Do Claw feet Do leaves on the Knees Do with Carv'd Rails and Jorney 11 the Same COMMODE DRESSING TABLES Commode Dressing table with four long Drawers without a Drising Drawr Add for a Dresing drawer from 30 to 80 Shilln and for the Jorneymans wages in Porprotion WRITING TABLES Writing tables with one top to raise on the Side only Front to Draw out Do with one top to raise on Both Sides Do with tow Tops to rase on both Sides work in the Drawers excluded BUREAU TABLES Bureau Table with Prospect Door and Square Corners Do with quater Colums CHINA TABLES, China Tables plain Legs and Stretcher three feet long with Bases brackets & fret Top China Tables open Stretcher Top three feet Long Bases and Brackets : Do with fret Frame Add for Commode Ditto 2 10 S. To Jorney 11 : Ditto 5 Feet, with 6. Legs PLAIN NIGHT TABLE Plain night Table

15 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker 301 FRAMES FOR MARBLE SLABS Mohogany Wallnut Jurnyman Frame for Marble slab Maryborough S d S d S d feet without Bases or Brackets about 4 feet long Do with Bases and Brackets Commode Rails Do with plain Knees & Claw feet Do with Leaves on the knees & Carved Mouldings Do 5 feet with 6 Legs PINE KITCHEN TABLES Pine Kitchen Tables full Frame with two Leaves hung with Rule Joint 4 feet long & two Drawers Do with one Leaf and one Drawer.. Do 3 feet 6 Inches Long with two Leaves Do with one Leaf Do with one Leaf Do single Frame 3 F: 6 Inches with a Drar JOINT STOOL Joint Stool with a Drawer & Sliding Top 3 feet Long Do without a Drawer Do fixed with a Drawer Do fixed without a Drawer Stool for a Store of Walnut Do of Pine FIRE SCREENE8 Fire Screene with plain feet Do with Claw feet Do with Loaves on the Knees Add for fluting the Pillars 5 S and to the Jorneymen HORSE FIRE SCREENES without a fret Do with a fret under the Stretcher DUMB WAITERS, Dumb waiter with four Tops plain feet, Do with Claw feet Do with Leaves on the Knees

16 302 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker CLOATHS-PRE8SES, Mohogany Wallnut Jurnyman Cloathe Press in two parts upper S d S d S d Part about 4 feet Square in the front the Doors hung with Rule Joints and Sliding Shelves with 3 Drawres in the Lower part in Side work of Red Ceder Do inside work not Red Ceder Do in one part without Drawers inside work of Red Ceder Do inside work not Red Ceder Do with tow Drawers inside blow and Pins above with Doors hung in the Common way Do of Pine N.B. Add to any of the Presses with a Pitch Pediment, Dentils fret & Shield Do without Dentils fret or Shield CORNER CUPBOURDS Corner Cupbord in two parts about 7 feet high Square Head & stright Pannels Do with common Sash Doors Do with square Head Dentills Fret and pain Pannel Doors Do with Pediment head Dentil Cornice fret Shield Roses and Blazes with plain Pannel Doors Do with Common Sash Doors flat Pannels with Skolloped Doors Do with Chinese Doors N.B. Deduct in a Pitch Pediment for any of the above Cupboards 15 S and to the Journeymans wages SINGLE CUPBOARDS Cupboard about four feet high and Three feet wide Square head and common sash doors Do with Dentil Cornice plain Pannels Do without Dentil and Plain Pannel Do with Common Sash Doors Dentil Cornice Cradle plain without Carving

17 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker 303 PINE CUPBOARDS Mohogany Wallnut Jurnyman S d S d S d Double Pine Cupboards about 7 feet high Single pine Cupboard about 4 feet high and 3 wide N.B., The Prices to any of the above Cupboards are without Glasing CLOCK CASES, Clock Case with Square head & Cornners, Do with Scroll pediment head without fret Dentil or Carved and Square Corners Do, with Column Corners Do, with fret Dentils Shield Roses & Biases Do without fret or Dentils N.B., The above prices without Glazing TEA BOARDS Tea Board Scolloped at 15 d per Inch Do, Plain Turned from 15 I to 22 I at 6d per Inch Hand Boards from 6 I to 12 I at 4 per Inch Decanter stands lined at 5 S per pair BEDSTEADS &C. Bedstead Low Posts, Tow Posts Mahogany Clawfeet & plain Knees Do high Posts all Poplar stained except feet Posts of Mohognay Claw feet & Plain Knees Do all Mahognay Claw feet & Plain Knees Do Head Posts Popler Do Claw Feet Leaves on the Knees not fluted with brass Caps,... Do Knees to move fluted pillars a mamber Carved or Capital and Base Gothic Pillers and & Strait feet Beadsteads Beadstead Popler staned towo feet posts Mahogany with Bases Do all Mahogany Plain turned Pillers and Bases Do Gothic pillers & Fret on the feet Mahogany Field Beadsteads with Canopy Rails

18 304 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker POPLAR BEDSTEADS Mohogany Wallnut Jurnyroan S d S d S d Poplar Corded Bedstead Do Low posts with four Screws Do Claw feet to two Pots Do high Posts plain turned Do with bases & caps Claw feet Poplar field Beadsteads canopy Rails Do Strait Rails Add for Fluting the Posts 15 Shi. and to the Jorneymans wages 7 s 6 d. CHINA TRAYS Fret China Trays 18 inches by Commode Do Trays for Pewter 18 Inches by Do for Knives and forks 15 by In Watson's Annals of Philadelphia one reads that "B. Lehman was an apprentice to Mr. Knorr a Carpenter, '' who evidently so thoroughly instructed his pupil that he became an expert cabinet-maker. Probably many of the fine old pieces of furniture now in the homes of the descendants of Germantown's post-revolutionary families were from the shop of this local craftsman. The Lehmans were a family of importance in early Germantown. Christian Lehman, who came from Germany with his father Godfrey, in 1731, is recorded as a Notary Public, a Surveyor, a Conveyancer and as a Gentleman. He was well educated, and quite an astronomer, casting horoscopes for the members of his family, but never for others. Benjamin Lehman, son of Christian, was born January 14, 1760, and on January 29,1784, he married Elizabeth Keyser, of Germantown, a descendant of the early settler of that name. "We find Christian Lehman early identified with the Germantown Union School, now more popularly known as The Germantown Academy, which was the first school in that community, built in 1760, where both

19 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker 305 English and German have always been taught, and which is still a prominent institute of learning. Four members of this family were contributors to the building of the school and for sixty-eight years three members were trustees. Christian served seven years, Benjamin acted as trustee for thirty-five years, until old age prevented his longer service, and his son Benjamin Lehman, Jr., was a trustee for twenty-six years, until his death. In 1798, Benjamin Lehman, the cabinetmaker, was one of the committee to superintend the repairs to the schoolhouse, after it had been occupied by the Bank of North America and the Bank of Pennsylvania, during the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia of that year. Benjamin Lehman's home was on Germantown Avenue, at the westerly corner of what is now Maple- Wood Avenue, and in the rear was his lumber yard. We find his advertisements in Michael Billmeyer's Germantauner Zeitung of March 16, 1790, and subsequent issues, wherein he advised the readers of his lumber and board-yard, and that he kept for sale "Boards of all kinds, shingles, planks, good hickory and oak wood, chestnut and oak posts, barrel staves and hoops, walnut and poplar boards, bedstead wood, laths and other sawed wood." Conveniences for feeding horses and caring for them were also to be had of Benjamin Lehman. In his will, proved January 21, 1840,* he called himself Lumber Merchant, and bequeathed to his son, Benjamin (Jr.), "two thirds of all my Carpenter's Tools, of which he is to have his choice, together with my work Bench", which indicates he carried on joinery late in life. * Benjamin Lehman died January 8, 1839, and is buried in the graveyard of The Church of the Brethren, Germantown Avenue above Sharpnack Street, Germantown. His will is filed in the Office of the Register of Wills, Philadelphia. Book 14, No. 8, page 34. VOL. LIV. 20.

20 306 Benjamin Lehman, a Germantown Cabinetmaker While the inventory of the estate reveals that he had mortgages and investments amounting to $51,556., all of which were itemized, it shows little of interest in the cabinet-making line, other than "In the Work Shop, [a] Lot of Tools," valued at $10., and in the Coach House a "Lot of Seasoned Wood, $1.00." The contents of the residence were modestly appraised. The principal items being 1 pair Mahogany tables $ Mahogany breakfast table 3. 8 Windsor Chairs 5. 1 Large Looking Glass 5. 1 Eight day Mahogany Clock Secretary & Book case. Painted Walnut Table & Cover for Dining Windsor Settee & Cushion Black Walnut Chairs 2. 1 three foot Mahogany Stand.50 8 White Windsor Chairs 2. 1 Walnut Desk & drawers 8. 1 Walnut Chest of Drawers 6. 1 Mahogany Card Table.25 1 Walnut Card Table.50 4 Green arm Chairs 1. 5 Windsor Chairs 1. The value placed upon Benjamin Lehman's furniture, in 1840, was much below the prices which he charged for his work in Paul Svinin wrote, in 1812, that "The Americans have by nature a great gift for the Arts"; and, certainly from the records left by Benjamin Lehman in his book of prices and the many descriptions of fine furniture he made, we can class him as an artist in the cabinet-making craft. Let us hope that this information of another Philadelphia cabinet-maker may bring forth specimens of his workmanship to be deposited with The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.