Bill of sale
- Place of origin:
Covent Garden, England (inscribed)
- Date:
16 January 1713 - 4 February 1713 (inscribed)
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Pen and ink on engraved paper
- Credit Line:
Gabrielle Enthoven Collection
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
This bill of sale is signed by the actor -managers Colley Cibber (1671-1757), Robert Wilks (1665-1732) and Barton Booth (1681-1733), known as 'the triumvirate' that was running the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in January 1714. The actor Thomas Doggett (1670-1721), a former partner, had retired in disgust when his enemy Booth was allowed a share in the theatre.
The is a bill for fabric which would probably have been used for costumes at Drury Lane Theatre, and would have been kept as part of the theatre's accounts. An advertisement in The Spectator, 21 March 1711, noted that the Mercer's shop at the Blackamore's Head in Bedford Street, Covent Garden, was then run by Carew Reynell with his partners Tristram Huddleston, Isaac Spiltimber and Samuel Wrexham: 'the said Tristram Huddleston and Samuel Wrexham being removed from the Wheatsheaf in Bedford Street to the Blackamore's Head ... where there is the greatest variety of new silks of all kinds and from the highest to lowest prices.'
Physical description
Manuscript bill of sale on engraved letterheading, featuring a central roundel at the top with an image of a black woman wearing hoop earrings, a pearl necklace and a turban, with the words 'BOUGHT OF' within a banner heading above, centre top. Surrounding the image in manuscript: 'Samuel Wrexham', and in print: 'and Compy. at the Blackamore's Head in Bedford Street Covent Garden'. In MS: '1713 16 Jan for Mr. Booth & Mr. Lewis, 29 Do.& Mr. Brouse 4 Feb' and signed by the managers of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Colley Cibber (1671-1757), Robert Wilks (1665-1732) and Barton Booth (1681-1733). The receipt lists the fabric purchased as: - 'rich scarlet velvet', 'reich white sergedusoy', 'scarlet and cherry silk; and 'white rich sergedusoy' (possibly meant to be the raw silk known as Padua Serge'). Inscribed verso: 'Mr. Wilks & Comp. Bill'. Small hole in centre.
Place of Origin
Covent Garden, England (inscribed)
Date
16 January 1713 - 4 February 1713 (inscribed)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Pen and ink on engraved paper
Dimensions
Height: 16.5 cm object, Width: 21.5 cm object, Height: 23 cm mount, Width: 21.5 cm mount
Descriptive line
Bill of sale for fabric for costumes, signed by the managers of Drury Lane Theatre Colley Cibber (1671-1757), Robert Wilks (1665-1732) and Barton Booth (1681-1733), bought from Samuel Wrexham at the Blackamoor's Head, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, January 16th to February 4th 1713. Ink on headed paper of Samuel Wrexham & Company.
Associated names
Colley Cibber; Barton Booth; Barton Booth; Wilks, Robert
Materials
Paper; Ink
Techniques
Engraved; Written
Categories
Entertainment & Leisure; Manuscripts
Collection code
T&P
