Career

As royal cabinet-maker he supplied walnut and mahogany furniture for the royal household, the royal yacht, and the king"s servants and mistresses, as well as the rich gilt gesso furniture for which he is best known but which constituted a small part of his output. Early references to Moore are in the Duke of Montagu"s domestic expenses, 1708, and the entry in the accounts of Lord Hervey, soon created Earl of Bristol, for "glass piers & sconces", 1710. James Moore assumed the position of clerk of the works at Blenheim Palace, completing and furnishing the house after Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, quarreled with her architect, John Vanbrugh.

Moore had first appeared as the Duchess"s "glass man", providing pier glasses in the house.

By 1714 the Duchess referred to him as "my oracle, Mr. Moore" who "certainly has very good sense and I think him very honest and understanding in many trades besides his own."

Moore is especially known for gilt gesso furniture, tables looking-glass frames and candlestands.

A pair of gilt gesso side tables bearing the crowned cypher of George I in the Royal Collection and the pair of candlestands en suite are incised with his name, an unusual practice at the time. At Erddig, gilt gesso furniture by Moore can be linked to surviving bills receipted by James Moore and John Belchier, 1722-1726.

The succeeding royal cabinet-maker, Benjamin Goodison, trained in Moore"s workshop.