Joseph Lewis Cunningham

Joseph Lewis Cunningham
Born	1784 Boston, Massachusetts, US
Died	1843 Boston, Massachusetts, US
Occupation	Auctioneer
Years active	Early 1800s
Known for	Auctioneer based in Boston, Massachusetts; operated Corinthian Hall auction rooms

Joseph Lewis Cunningham (1784–1843), commonly referred to as J. L. Cunningham, was a distinguished auctioneer based in Boston, Massachusetts, throughout the early 1800s. His auction offerings spanned a wide range of goods, including birds, horses, real estate, furniture, navigational charts, telescopes, artworks from both American and European origins, fishing equipment, textiles, firearms, musical instruments, fruit-bearing trees, flower seeds, printing apparatus, and books.

Biography

Cunningham collaborated with notable auctioneers and commission merchants such as John J. Linzee (operating under Linzee & Cunningham at India Wharf) and Lemuel Blake (of Blake & Cunningham).

During the early 1820s, Cunningham conducted his business from numbers 2-3 Liberty Square until a fire in 1825 necessitated relocation. In the following year, he developed Corinthian Hall at the intersection of Milk Street and Federal Street. This establishment featured expansive auction rooms on its ground floor alongside several halls above and housed upscale retail outlets. It also became a prominent location for social events.

Cunningham entered into matrimony three times: first with Sarah Inman Linzee (1787–1820) in 1807; then with Mary Ann Inman (deceased 1825) in 1821; and finally with Catherine Amory in 1828. His residences included Somerset Street around 1807 and later Bedford Street by 1823. He maintained an association with Trinity Church.

Passing away in 1843, Cunningham was initially interred in vault no.32 at old Trinity Church before his remains were transferred to Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. After his death, an auction of his books, stereotype plates, and stationery yielded an exceptionally high total estimated between $80,000 and $100,000.

Auctions conducted by J.L Cunningham

• 1815
  • Thousands of volumes comprising standard European and American publications, including the entire inventory of books and stationery from the defunct firm West & Blake
  • Complete stock belonging to Col. John Boyle, bookseller
• 1820
  • Library collection of Jacob Abbot Cummings (Blake & Cunningham)
• 1821
  • A collection of cabinet paintings featuring numerous pieces formerly exhibited in galleries owned by the Duke of Buckingham, Marquis of Stafford, Cardinal Woolsey, Lord Fife, Henry Hope, among others—164 artworks including reproductions of Rembrandt's "Achilles," works by Titian, Watteau's "Garden at Versailles," and Thomas Sully's "Taking of Major Andre" at Doggett's Repository of Arts (Blake & Cunningham)

• 1823
  • Household furnishings from a gentleman and lady departing the city such as an "astral lamp," portable desk, and refined urn
  • Shipment of "330 bales Russia feathers"
  • Family horse accompanied by a chaise
• 1824
  • "50 dozen 18-thread cod lines" alongside "5 sacks first quality live geese feathers"
  • Inventory from a spirit rectifier
  • Bottles for cider and porter; China ware; Naples soap; brushes
  • Swedish iron goods
  • Typesetting materials for music printing
  • Paintings by old masters in gilt frames recently imported from London including works by Titian, Rubens, De Heem, Ruysdaal, Vanderveldt, Brughel, Wouvermans; marble busts representing Rubens and Raphael displayed at Doggett's Repository
  • Madras handkerchiefs featuring exquisite designs
  • Canary birds housed in cages
  • Grocery store furnishings such as standing casks, kegs, scales with weights, measuring vessels, tea canisters, counters with drawers, empty pipes and barrels, stone jars
  • Valuable real estate previously owned by Rebekah Parrott located at Liberty-square and Kilby
  • Four cases containing preserved insects
  • Nautical instruments and charts formerly belonging to Capt. Charles S. Winship
  • Parlor fenders
  • A small well-trained pony equipped with an English-built gig
  • Six brand-new oven stoves
  • Three hundred rolls of French wallpaper along with a printing press

• 1825
  • Artworks from the collection of "N. Delvaltooth," including pieces by or inspired by Claude Lorrain, Rembrandt, Watteau
  • Brass turning lathe; seamen’s apparel; Bologna sausages; Spanish cigars
  • Shares in South Boston Bridge Corporation and Dorchester Turnpike Corporation offered at Merchant's Hall
  • Cabinet manufacturing stock from the late Thomas Emmons’ workshop
  • Exquisite alabaster decorations displayed at Concert Hall
  • Furniture items along with duelling pistols, ebony German flute, gold watch, French cordials auctioned at Julien Auction Room

• 1826
  • Furnishings originating from Tontine Coffee House on Washington Street
  • Two hundred looking glasses

• 1829
  • Six hundred double tulip bulbs and one hundred ranunculus roots recently brought from London

• 1841
  • The renowned Conway Medicines: prepared remedies along with recipes ready for shipment
  • Private library belonging to a deceased gentleman including a solar microscope
  • Valuable cow paired with calf
  • Distinguished oil paintings: sixty-four original works plus facsimiles representing masterpieces housed in the Louvre, Hague, Amsterdam exhibited at Harding's Gallery
  • Valuable property located at no.57 Mount Vernon Street in Beacon Hill

• 1842
  • Collection of greenhouse plants comprising fine roses, callas, verbenas, heliotropes, azaleas
  • Recently imported French fruit trees including apples, plums, apricots, cherries, peaches along with grapevines
  • Dutch canary birds prized for their singing abilities
  • Parlor organs
  • Approximately thirty oil paintings by C. Drew showcasing scenes around Boston Light, shipwrecks and English coastal views