According the Hancock’s of London site, Hunt & Roskell were “renowned jewellers and silversmiths on Bond Street in London who for many years held the Royal Warrant of Queen Victoria. The firm was the successor to the celebrated silversmith Paul Storr who had left Rundell, Bridge & Rundell to set up his own workshop on Harrison Street near Clerkenwell in 1819.”
On View (at Hunt and Roskell’s). John Tenniel’s 1879 Punch cartoon depicts Benjamin Disraeli inspecting a triumphal wreath made of golden leaves paid for by workingmen in the U. K. — a “People’s Tribute” that was the idea of the conservative activist Edward Tracy Turnerelli (1813-1896). Disraeli refused to accept it.
Storr later formed a partnership with John Mortimer, “began trading from 13 New Bond Street as Storr & Mortimer. In 1826 they took an additional partner, John Samuel Hunt, who brought a welcome investment capital of £5,000 with him. The firm was increasingly successful and in 1838 they moved to new premises at 156 New Bond Street settling in just prior to the retirement of Paul Storr at the end of December that same year.” After another name change upon the retirement of principals in the firm, it became Hunt & Roskell, who were so successful by the 1860s “they were reported to be employing 35 people at the New Bond Street shop and a further 80-100 at the factory on Harrison Street.”
The founders’s sons continued the company until 1889 when they sold it J.W. Benson of Ludgate Hill, who converted it into a limited company in 1897, which continued in business until the 1960s.
Works by Hunt & Roskell on this site and other related material
- Christening Cup
- Hunt & Roskell jewelry at the Great Exhibition
- John Everett Millais designs a gold goose scarf pin
- Example of their opal jewelry
- Punch cartoons about Disraeli
Bibliography
“Hunt & Roskell Founded 1843.” Hancocks. Web. 24 May 2020.
Last modified 24 May 2020