Mappin and Webb
Encyclopedia
Mappin & Webb is a company originally founded in Sheffield
, England
. The company is a noted firm of Silversmith
s and formerly cutlery
manufactures with roots back to 1774 when Joseph Mappin (snr) founded the firm. The company is now a retail jeweller, and Royal Warrant holder.
His eldest son Frederick Thorpe Mappin
(1821-1910) joined at the age of 13 as an apprentice. He then ran the business following his father's death in 1841. His brothers Edward, Joseph Charles and John Newton joined the firm later. The business grew, taking over William Sampson & Sons in 1845 and he also bought a London shop, to sell direct, and later, in 1856, a warehouse. He expanded trade with overseas trips, and setting up agencies in markets such as Canada
and Australia
. The firm was renamed as 'Mappin Bros.' in 1851. By 1851, he became the youngest ever Master Cutler
. By 1852, he opened a new factory on Flat Street, next door to Rodgers' Norfolk street works (now the site of the old Head Post Office), but after a dispute, in 1859, with his younger brother, he left the firm, which later became part of Mappin and Webb.
. In 1885 he supported the formation of the University of Sheffield
, and was created its first Pro-Chancellor. The University's Sir Frederick Mappin Building
is named after him. He was knighted in 1886, Sir Frederick Mappin, 1st Baronet
. When he died in 1910 he left nearly £1 million.
jeweller, and then sold to Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. of London. But in contrast Mappin and Webb run by Newton Mappin was thriving with a large showroom on Norfolk street, displaying the Silverware
and electroplate. By 1897 the company was granted a Royal Warrant. Today Mappin & Webb is silversmith to both Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and to the Prince of Wales
Prince Charles. In 1899 the Sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger
was apprenticed to the firm as a metal engraver. Newton Mappin bought the family firm back in 1903.
The company's premises at No 1 Poultry
in London were famously demolished in 1994 by developer Peter Palumbo. It was replaced by a controversial building designed by architect James Stirling
.
The company is now a brand owned by the Jewellers Goldsmiths group.
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The company is a noted firm of Silversmith
Silversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
s and formerly cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
manufactures with roots back to 1774 when Joseph Mappin (snr) founded the firm. The company is now a retail jeweller, and Royal Warrant holder.
Arundel & Mappin
The firm was started by Joseph Mappin, in 1810, with a partner, Mr Arundel. They registered a trademark a "Sun" in 1812 and were trading from premises in Norfolk street and Mulberry street.His eldest son Frederick Thorpe Mappin
Sir Frederick Mappin, 1st Baronet
Sir Frederick Thorpe Mappin, 1st Baronet, known as Frederick Mappin was an English factory owner and Liberal politician....
(1821-1910) joined at the age of 13 as an apprentice. He then ran the business following his father's death in 1841. His brothers Edward, Joseph Charles and John Newton joined the firm later. The business grew, taking over William Sampson & Sons in 1845 and he also bought a London shop, to sell direct, and later, in 1856, a warehouse. He expanded trade with overseas trips, and setting up agencies in markets such as Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The firm was renamed as 'Mappin Bros.' in 1851. By 1851, he became the youngest ever Master Cutler
Master Cutler
The Master Cutler is the head of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire established in 1624. Their role is to act as an ambassador of industry in Sheffield, England. The Master Cutler is elected by the freemen of the company on the first Monday of September of each year and the position taken in the...
. By 1852, he opened a new factory on Flat Street, next door to Rodgers' Norfolk street works (now the site of the old Head Post Office), but after a dispute, in 1859, with his younger brother, he left the firm, which later became part of Mappin and Webb.
Frederick Mappin
Frederick Mappin then became a partner in the Thos. Turton & Sons steelworks and implemented mechanisation of the processes, despite a strike by employees. He became a successful industrialist and later a politician. In 1854 he was elected to Sheffield Town Council as a Liberal, stepping down in 1857. In the 1860s, Mappin became a director of the Sheffield Gas and Light Company, and of the Midland RailwayMidland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
. In 1885 he supported the formation of the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, and was created its first Pro-Chancellor. The University's Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
The Sir Frederick Mappin Building, or more familiarly, the Mappin Building, is a grade II-listed building on Mappin Street, Sheffield, England, named after Sir Frederick Mappin , the so-called Father of Sheffield University....
is named after him. He was knighted in 1886, Sir Frederick Mappin, 1st Baronet
Sir Frederick Mappin, 1st Baronet
Sir Frederick Thorpe Mappin, 1st Baronet, known as Frederick Mappin was an English factory owner and Liberal politician....
. When he died in 1910 he left nearly £1 million.
Mappin & Webb
John Newton Mappin started an electroplating and cutlery firm which by 1868 was called Mappin & Webb. The firm was started with his brother-in-law George Webb. The firm prospered but the old family firm of Mappin Bros. had started to decline, as by 1863 the firm was reported as only employing 200 in a local trade review. By the 1880s the Mappin Bros. firm had been sold to a BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
jeweller, and then sold to Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. of London. But in contrast Mappin and Webb run by Newton Mappin was thriving with a large showroom on Norfolk street, displaying the Silverware
Silver (household)
Household silver or silverware includes dishware, cutlery and other household items made of sterling, Britannia or Sheffield plate silver. The term is often extended to items made of stainless steel...
and electroplate. By 1897 the company was granted a Royal Warrant. Today Mappin & Webb is silversmith to both Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and to the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
Prince Charles. In 1899 the Sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger
Charles Sargeant Jagger
Charles Sargeant Jagger MC was a British sculptor who, following active service in the First World War, sculpted many works on the theme of war...
was apprenticed to the firm as a metal engraver. Newton Mappin bought the family firm back in 1903.
The company's premises at No 1 Poultry
No 1 Poultry
No 1 Poultry is an office and retail building in London. It was designed by James Stirling for a site then owned by developer Peter Palumbo, and first assembled by Palumbo's father Rudolph in the 1960's...
in London were famously demolished in 1994 by developer Peter Palumbo. It was replaced by a controversial building designed by architect James Stirling
James Stirling (architect)
Sir James Frazer Stirling FRIBA was a British architect. He is considered to be among the most important and influential British architects of the second half of the 20th century...
.
Modern day firm
The firm was taken over by Asprey & Co. in the 1980s, but was sold later.The company is now a brand owned by the Jewellers Goldsmiths group.