Invoice

This invoice has an engraved letterhead of John Lyus, coffin maker & furnishing undertaker, No. 10 Tabernacle Walk, Finsbury. John Lyus had died in 1836 and the business continued to be run by his widow Mary Ann Lyus. The invoice dates from 1844 and relates to all the coffin and funeral costs for the funeral of Mrs Ann Archer.

The small engraved letterhead is full of detail. Two mutes on the left and the right frame the text. Mutes often walked in front of the funeral procession carrying staffs wrapped in white or black silk matched by silk sashes worn across their coats. White would have identified that it was the funeral of a child. Two cherubs are portrayed above the mutes and such items in brass were often fixed to the outside of coffins as decoration. On either side of the urn at the top centre, there are two diamond shaped coffin plates, one with a coat of arms. The text of the letterhead explains that funerals were performed in 'Town or Country with Punctuality and Economy', that ' every Article requisite for Funerals' were available 'on the most reasonable terms' and that 'mourning rings' could be supplied.

The invoice begin by listing a '5ft 4 by 17 Stout Elm Coffin Covered with fine Black', '2 rows of Best Japann'd nails', '3 Pr Coronet Hands neatly dotted', 'Plate of Inscription Inside Neatly lined & ruffled with good Bed & Pillow'. The cost of the coffin came to 2 pounds and 3 shillings. The funeral took place in Hackney and other expenses were incurred. These included ' a nest satin glazed winding sheet', '2 men going in with coffin', 'use of best silk velvet Pall' and 3 pairs of 'Gents & I pr Youths Best Kid Gloves', '4 Bearers to Hackney in Church & Allowance' and 'Attending funeral with good silk fittings'. The total bill came to five pounds fourteen shillings and six pence and this did not include the burial dues at Hackney which were a further one pound and five shillings.