Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Martin, F. X.

Martin, F. X., Art Furniture Manufacturer and Dealer, 116 Willis Street, Wellington. Mr. Martin, who is a brother of Mr. Robert Martin, the well-known painter and paperhanger, of Manners Street, was born in London in 1840. He was taken to America at five years of age, and thoroughly learned every branch of his trade in that country. In 1865 he commenced business in Pittsburg, Pensilvania, where he remained three or four years. Afterwards he was successively in Louisville, Kentucky, Columbia, and Cincinatti, Ohio, Chicago, and other American towns. Mr. Martin was in the last named city at the time of the great fire. After remaining between seven and eight years, he sold off and emigrated to New Zealand. Mr. Martin's premises in Willis Street are well worth a visit. A rich variety of splendid mantels, art furniture, and inlaid work in the beautiful natural woods of New Zealand, and in specially imported American timbers, are on view, many being of novel designs. Mr. Martin is an artist in furniture making, and undertakes to prepare drawings of any article that is required, page 656 whether for churches, offices, or dwellings. His system is to submit the sketch with estimate of cost, his customers being then able to decide whether to have the article made as designed, or a simpler and less expensive one. Communications by letter receive prompt attention, Mr. Martin's plant includes shaper and circular saws, which are driven by a water moter, but his specialty is handwork, and such is ordinarily the demand for his production that it is no uncommon thing for him to have six months work on hand. There can be no doubt that Mr. Martin will find plenty to do, as the matter of artistic furniture is one which has not received that attention in Wellington which its importance demands, and now that it is possible to obtain special designs of a novel character and at a reasonable [unclear: price], it is certain that advantage will be taken of the opportunity.