Thomas Capp

Records of Capp's work indicate that he often worked painting and gilding furniture. He became a master of the Painter and Stainer's company in 1621. His father, also Thomas Capp, was a painter in London,^[1] and signed a petition of the Painter and Stainer's company in 1578.^[2]

In January 1610 he was paid for painting chairs and stools for Anne of Denmark and working on some velvet curtains.^[3] After her death in 1619, Capp and seven associates petitioned King James for payment of £1600 for household work supplied to the queen. His co-petitioners were; William Thompson, joiner; Isobell Shawe and Christopher Shawe, embroiderers; Jasper Heely, silkman; John Salusbury, Thomas Edwards and Gilbert Hart upholsterers.^[4]

Among the petitioners, the embroiderers were a couple, Christopher Shawe and Isobel Buttes had married in 1589. Christopher Shawe was an embroiderer to Anne of Denmark and King James.^[5] Shawe embroidered costume for the masque, Tethys' Festival, work described as, "against the Prince his highness creation for a maske".^[6] Thomas Edwards converted caparisons into wall hangings for Lady Anne Clifford and Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset for use in a long gallery.^[7]

At this time furniture was decorated with decorated with painted and gilt arabesque patterns, such work was called "rebesking" in accounts.^[8] Capp painted furniture for Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex, some pieces "laid red and wrought with white", working with Oliver Browne and John Baker.^[9] He painted and gilded with gold and silver a bed provided by the draper Hugh Goddard for Robert Spencer, 1st Baron Spencer.^[10] Capp supplied four "tops" or finials to a bed at Belvoir Castle for Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland in March 1620.^[11]