MAKERS & RETAILERS

Howell, James & Co

Howell & James was founded in 1819 by James Howell and Isaac James. Originally established as silk mercers and retail jewellers, the firm occupied premises at 5, 7 and 9 Regent Street, London.

Isaac James left the partnership in 1838, after which James Howell, Henry Gillett, Thomas Stroud and William Sedgwick continued the business under the name Howell, James & Co. By 1855, three of the four partners had retired, leaving Henry Gillett in sole control of the firm.

Howell, James & Co exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and again at the International Exhibition of 1862. At the latter, the firm received an honourable mention for its dressing cases, reflecting its established reputation for finely made luxury goods.

An illustration of a dressing case by Howell, James & Co taken from ‘The International Exhibition of 1862: The Illustrated Catalogue of the Industrial Department’.
An illustration of a dressing case by Howell, James & Co taken from ‘The International Exhibition of 1862: The Illustrated Catalogue of the Industrial Department’.

The Regent Street premises were extensively developed during this period. In 1860, additional display rooms were opened, creating a much larger and more elaborate retail environment. By 1865, the firm employed more than one hundred people, with many of its female employees living in accommodation above the shop.

By the later nineteenth century, Howell, James & Co had developed into a substantial luxury retailer, offering a broad range of goods including jewellery, clocks, dressing cases, writing cases, small furnishings, textiles and other decorative and personal accessories. The firm also continued to participate in major international exhibitions, including the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867.

In 1884, the remaining partners, Thomas Buxton Morrish, John Gow and Josiah Willey, dissolved the partnership and the business became a limited company under the name Howell & James Ltd. The company continued trading into the twentieth century before finally closing in 1911.

Interior lid view showing the gold-tooled Howell, James & Co. maker’s mark.
Antique Jewellery Box in Amboyna, by Howell, James & Co. VIEW THIS BOX →
Howell, James & Co gold-tooled maker’s mark.
‘Howell, James & Co, 9 Regent Street’ gold-tooled manufacturer’s mark from an antique jewellery box in amboyna.
Front right interior view of the amboyna jewellery box showing the green-lined compartments and lower drawer.
Antique Jewellery Box in Amboyna, by Howell, James & Co. VIEW THIS BOX →
Howell, James & Co advertisement from 1870.
Howell, James & Co advertisement from September 1870.
Front interior view of the Howell, James & Co. jewellery box with the ‘Automatic’ mechanism fully extended.
Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Betjemann Patent ‘Automatic’ Mechanism by Howell, James & Co. VIEW THIS BOX →
Long engraved brass ‘Howell, James & Co, Regent Street, London’ manufacturer’s plate from a coromandel jewellery box.
‘Howell, James & Co, Regent Street, London’ manufacturer’s plate from an antique coromandel jewellery box with Betjemann Patent mechanism.
Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Betjemann Patent Mechanism, by Howell, James & Co.
Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel with Betjemann Patent Mechanism, by Howell, James & Co. VIEW THIS BOX →
Rectangular ‘Howell, James & Co, Regent Street, London’ manufacturer’s plate from a coromandel jewellery box.
‘Howell, James & Co, Regent Street, London’ manufacturer’s plate from an antique coromandel jewellery box with Betjemann Patent mechanism.
Miniature Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel by Howell, James & Co.
Miniature Antique Jewellery Box in Coromandel by Howell, James & Co. VIEW THIS BOX →
Howell, James & Co engraved retailers’ plate.
‘Howell, James & Co, Regent Street, London’ retailer’s plate from an antique coromandel jewellery box.

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