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Arthur Tooth & Sons stock inventories and accounts, 1871-1959.

Arthur Tooth & Sons.

Available at General Collections  PLAZA : REFERENCE  (860679 ) and other locations()

  • Title:
    Arthur Tooth & Sons stock inventories and accounts, 1871-1959.
  • Author/Creator: Arthur Tooth & Sons.
  • Creation Date: 1871-1959.
  • Biographical/Historical Note: Art dealers in London and New York, founded in London in 1842 and operating as Tooth Paintings in 1986.
  • Arrangement: Organized in 4 series: Series I. London branch, stock inventories 1871-1945, 1957 (vols. 1-21); Series II. London branch consignments 1928-1959 (vols. 22-25); Series III. London branch accounts 1913-1937, 1942-1945 (vols. 26-34); Series IV. New York branch, 1906-1924 ((vol. 35-36).
  • Physical Desc.: 36 volumes..
  • Summary: The Tooth archive consists primarily of an incomplete, but continuous, set of stock inventories of the main London branch of the firm from 1871-1941. These include detailed listings of purchases made and sales completed. Paintings sales are listed until 1945 and details of sales to 1957 are furnished in annotations in the latest stock inventory. An associated series of consignments, 1929-1959, provides information on works consigned to the firm by practising artists, private owners and commercial enterprises. The accounts of the London branch for 1913-1937 and 1942-1945 are chronicled in a series of 9 ledgers. The collection includes records of the New York branch of the firm; stock inventories, 1906-1912, and accounts, 1919-1924.
    Arthur Tooth & Sons was founded in the Haymarket, London, in 1842. In its first years, the firm dealt primarily in 18th and early 19th century British paintings and drawings but, after circa 1880, contemporary paintings and occasional Old Masters were increasingly represented in its stock. Other works of art and artefacts, such as china, furniture, and books, begin to be listed in the stock inventories after 1892. In the early 1900s, the firm opened a subsidiary branch in New York. There appear to have been regular movements of paintings between the two branches until the New York subsidiary closed in 1924. Records of a Paris subsidiary of the firm are not represented in this collection.
    Series I. London branch, stock inventories, 1871-1941, 1957; 21 vols. Two volumes of drawings stock inventories, 1871-1891; index to drawings stock, 1901; 5 vols. of paintings stock inventories, 1871-1891, 1900; 7 volumes of total stock inventories, 1892-1941, 1957; 6 vols. of paintings sales listings. Chronological listings by date of purchase or sale, except for the 1901 index of drawings. This series also includes an inventory of books at the New York branch of the firm, 1920-1929 (vol.15).
    Paintings and drawings were listed separately from 1871-1891 but beginning in 1892 the firm listed all its stock in single volumes, the 1900 paintings inventory furnishes no additional information. In addition to paintings and drawings, total stock listings include other works of art and artefacts, including prints, china, textiles, furniture, jewelry and books. Information on paintings and drawings includes the name of the artist, subject and size of the work, date and cost of purchase, date and price of sale, and name of purchaser. After 1892, descriptions of other items in stock and details of their purchase and sale are also provided. There is no information on sales of paintings between 1892-1901, but from 1902-1945 details of such sales are listed in separate volumes. Annotations in the latest stock inventory furnish information on the sale of paintings to 1957.
    There are indexes to artists represented in stock in 1890, 1891 and 1901. Occasional annotations and remarks also provide information on private collections, and exhibitions of works in stock. After 1902, the sale price is itemized, with listings for costs such as restoration work and framing. Details are also furnished on methods of payment, including installment plans.
    Series II. London branch, consignments, 1928-1959; 4 vols. Listings of works of art consigned to the firm include paintings, drawings, sculpture, and pottery. Volumes list date consigned, artist, subject and size of work, consignor, date bought in and sold or returned, and purchaser. Most of the consignments were made by the artists themselves and beginning in 1930 the works are listed under their names with a separate section for "pictures consigned by other than artists." Each vol. contains an index to the artists consigning works. Additional information is furnished on exhibitions in 1938 and 1939, with details of sales. This series also includes a typewritten list of paintings on consignment from Matthew Smith in August 1935, signed by the artist.
    Series III. London branch, accounts, 1913-1937, 1942-1945; 9 vols. Ledgers list accounts held with the firm by companies, artists, and others, with details of payments made. Includes debits, and indexes.
    Series IV. New York branch, stock inventories,1906-1912; 1 vol. Contains a chronological listing of sales of paintings and drawings, with name of the artist, title of work, sale price and date, and purchaser. Occasional information is furnished on collections and exhibitions.
    New York branch, accounts, 1919-1924; 1 vol. Ledger gives a chronological listing of expenditures of the Metropolitan Trust Company, 1919-1920, and the Arthur Tooth and Sons Company of Fifth Ave., New York, 1921-1924. Includes occasional financial details of restoration work on paintings and frames.
  • Language: English
  • Cumulative Index/Finding Aid: Finding aid available; folder-level control.
  • Other Archival Locations: Later Tooth stockbooks for the London office are held by the Tate Gallery Archives.
  • Form/Genre: Account books
    Merchandise inventories
  • Subjects: Smith, Matthew, 1879-1959 Arthur Tooth & Sons Tooth Paintings, London Tooth Galleries, London--Exhibitions Art -- Collectors and collecting Art -- Exhibitions Art dealers -- Great Britain Art dealers -- United States Decorative arts -- Europe Drawing -- Europe Painting -- Europe
  • ID/Accession Number: 86-A1429
    860679
  • Access/Rights: Open for use by qualified researchers.
  • OCLC Record Number: 123458401
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