Lawrence Cetta b. 1803

  • Maker
LAWRENCE CITTA (Cetta), alias LORENZO CITTE, aged 32, born Italy about 1802, tried 1834 in Sheffield, and transported on “Mary Ann” to New South Wales in 1835. On release set up a picture-framing business. Cetta successfully exported looking glasses and frames around the country. He left Sydney in 1853 for England. Set up looking glass business with John Crosta in Nottingham in 1854.
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picture-frame and looking-glass maker, was born near Como, Italy, into a family of picture-frame and looking-glass makers. He migrated to London, was tried in Sheffield in 1834 for receiving stolen goods (silver) and was transported to Sydney on the “Mary Ann” in 1835. Upon release he established a partnership with another frame-maker, T.E. Hughes, by January 1843. The partnership lasted until 1845 then Cetta worked alone for a decade. He married Jane Ellis in 1846 and lived at 57 George Street from 1845/46 to 1850/51. Two brothers, Julian and Peter Cetta, joined him in the business from London in August 1846 and October 1850 respectively. From November 1844, when he sent a case of goods to Port Phillip, Cetta ran a thriving inter-colonial export business from Sydney. He exported cases of his products, mostly looking glasses, to Port Phillip (45 shipments), Launceston (9), Adelaide (8) and Hobart Town (1). Known extant picture frames are illustrated in Cant (p.45) along with a Cetta & Hughes label. Three surround Joseph Backler 's portraits of the Sinclair family dated 1846.

Cetta was naturalised on 31 December 1852. Then in February 1853 he, his wife and a Miss Cetta sailed for Le Havre from Sydney via Melbourne.
By 1854, Cetta is listed in Wright’s Directory as living in Nottingham and working in partnership with John Crosta (born 1820 in Italy) as Crosta, Cetta and Co., looking-glass makers.

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Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1999
Last updated:
2015

Difference between this version and previous

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Date modified Sept. 1, 2015, 8:26 p.m. Sept. 1, 2015, 8:21 p.m.
Residences
  • c.1853 England
  • c.1845 - c.1851 57 George Street, Sydney, New South Wales
  • c.1842 - c.1853 Sydney, New South Wales
  • - London, England, UK
  • c.1803 - c.1840 Como, Italy
  • 1835 Sydney, NSW (: LAWRENCE CITTA, alias LORENZO CITTE, aged 32, born Italy about 1802, tried Michaelmas 1834 at Yorkshire-West Riding, and sentenced to transportation. HULK REGISTER: Lawrence Citta, received onboard prison hulk “Justicia” moored at Woolwich. Transported aboard “Mary Ann” to New South Wales in 1835. GAOL REPORT: General receiving of stolen property; connexions very bad)
  • 1854 - Nottingham, England, UK (set up business with John Crosta: looking glass makers)
  • c.1853 Le Havre, France
  • c.1845 - c.1851 57 George Street, Sydney, New South Wales
  • c.1842 - c.1853 Sydney, New South Wales
  • - London, England, UK
  • c.1803 - c.1840 Como, Italy
  • 1835 Sydney, NSW (: LAWRENCE CITTA, alias LORENZO CITTE, aged 32, born Italy about 1802, tried Michaelmas 1834 at Yorkshire-West Riding, and sentenced to transportation. HULK REGISTER: Lawrence Citta, received onboard prison hulk “Justicia” moored at Woolwich. Transported aboard “Mary Ann” to New South Wales in 1835. GAOL REPORT: General receiving of stolen property; connexions very bad)
  • 1854 - Nottingham, England, UK (set up business with John Crosta: looking glass makers)