Details
Title Pilliner, Frederick J.
Date 1828-July 8, 1861
Description Frederick J. Pilliner, born ca. 1827 in Cuba, was an engraver and lithographer active in Philadelphia ca. 1850-1861. First listed as a resident of Philadelphia at 38 Walnut Street (Lower Delaware Ward) in the 1850 census, Pilliner advertised his "Designing and Engraving on Wood" business the same year at 46 1/2 Walnut Street. As a wood engraver, he promoted his skills in the design of newspaper heads, views, and labels. In 1852 he exhibited his wood engravings at the Exhibition of American Manufacturers at the Franklin Institute. Thereafter, he relocated to Boston where he entered into the short-lived partnership Schenck & Pilliner with engraver John Schenck from 1853 to 1854.
By 1855, Pilliner returned to Philadelphia and entered the lithographic trade with partner John Kusterer at his former Walnut Street address. The partnership was again short-lived, and by January 1856, Pilliner & Kusterer had been dissolved with each lithographer advertising not to to trust the other on their account. Pilliner continued in the printing trade following the split and from 1858 to 1861, he relocated his establishment every year between 37 1/2 South Third Street (1858); N.E. Seventh and Chestnut streets (1859); and 147 South Fourth Street (1860-1) producing advertisements, vignette illustrations, and frontispieces for 1859-1860 editions of "Godey's Lady's Book." Shortly before his death on August 8, 1861, Pilliner also designed plates for "Sloans Homestead Architecture" (1861).
Pilliner died "after a short illness" with his residence at 209 South Sixth Street and his engraving and lithographic establishment still at Fourth Street. A member of the Lafayette Lodge, Ancient York Masons, Pilliner was buried at Monument Cemetery. Within a few weeks on August 21, 1861, possibly his father, and lithographer George Pilliner (b. ca. 1793), the administrator of his estate auctioned all of his stock and fixtures through the auction house of James A. Freeman.
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
References See Kusterer, John and Pilliner, George.
Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1850
Groce & Wallace, 506
Last, 220
Library Company of Philadelphia research file
Peters, 326
Philadelphia Business and City Directories, 1858-1861
WWWAA, 2611
North American, August 21, 1861
Public Ledger, August 13, 1861