20th Century English Solid Silver & Glass Spirit Decanter with Lock & Key c.1933

Appointed the Crown Jeweler in 2012, Mappin & Webb is one of the most widely recognized makers of silver and luxury goods in the world. With a roster of prestigious clients that has included six British monarchs as well as Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill and Harry Houdini, the historic firm has supplied fine jewelry and silver objects for royalty all over the globe including the Russian Imperial Household, the Siamese royal family and the Indian Maharaja.

Mappin & Webb’s origins are rooted in Jonathan Mappin’s workshop in Sheffield. He opened in 1775 with the intent to serve British society with the highest quality silverware ever made. His son and grandson, both named Joseph, carried on his vision until the mid-19th century when his four great-grandsons incorporated the business into Mappin Brothers Ltd. and embarked on a substantial expansion of the firm.

Nearing 1860, two of the great-grandsons, eldest Sir William Mappin and youngest John Mappin, left to pursue other opportunities. John opened his own business, Mappin & Company, and was joined two years later by his brother-in-law George Webb. Webb passed away in 1868 — the same year that saw the family form Mappin & Webb Co.

Webb’s name lived on in the company even after 1889 when the company became Mappin & Webb Ltd. In 1897, Mappin & Webb were granted their first Royal Warrant as silversmiths to Queen Victoria. The firm has been a holder of Royal Warrants since then.

Mappin & Webb supplied soldiers in the battle of Omdurman with their acclaimed Campaign watch. The company also supported wartime efforts during both World Wars in their enormous factory in Sheffield. Today Mappin & Webb is among the most prominent makers of Sheffield silver in the world.

Watches of Switzerland Operations Ltd. acquired Mappin & Webb in 1998 after a series of mergers and acquisitions. 

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Famous for their pure silver and electroplated furnishings and objects, Hukin & Heath is known all over the world. Collectors of the British manufacturer’s alluring decorative objects and other wares are quite familiar with the exceptional quality associated with the brand as well as with Hukin & Heath’s distinctive trademark, which features the initials "H & H," paired with the form of an eagle taking flight. 

Silversmiths Jonathan Wilson Hukin and John Thomas Heath established the firm in Birmingham in 1855. The company didn't register its silver mark until 1879 but had already erected a number of showrooms in London by that time. From sterling silver oil lamps to jugs and other vessels, the firm produced an array of elegant but useful items to meet just about any need in the home. Aficionados probably know the company primarily for its electroplated replications of Persian and Japanese goods.

The firm saw enough success to keep them in business even during periods of economic strain. Hukin & Heath’s good fortune skyrocketed in 1878, when they entered into collaboration with notable British designer and design theorist Dr. Christopher Dresser — recognized as one of the key figures in the Art Nouveau style, which, in its sinuous lines and flamboyant curves inspired by the natural world reflected a desire for freedom from the stuffy social and artistic strictures of the Victorian era. Dresser’s comely serveware and other items in electroplated nickel silver typically featured a reproduction of his signature alongside the manufacturer’s maker’s mark.

The company registered a number of Dresser’s designs with the H & H trademark in that timeframe. After they parted ways around 1881, Hukin & Heath continued to produce Dresser's designs. Unfortunately, the manufacturer’s design books containing his creations were destroyed before the firm closed permanently in 1953.

Find antique Hukin & Heath Sheffield silverplate, lighting and decorative objects.