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A very British Story
Our History
Mappin & Webb is a true British treasure with over 240 years of tradition and historical significance in the world of silver and fine jewellery. Renowned for combining timeless craftsmanship with superior quality and contemporary design, we have produced exquisite fine jewellery, elegant silverware, watches, glassware and the unique lifestyle accessories that have long been at the heart of affluent British society.
It’s a story that began in 1775, when Jonathan Mappin opened a workshop in Sheffield. His mission was to create the most beautifully crafted silverware for British society.
Over the immediate years that followed this would see the company expand internationally, receive Royal Warrants and commissions from Monarchs around the world, and become synonymous with excellence, craftsmanship and all things truly British.
The Early Years: A Family Partnership
Within a year the first Mappin hallmark was recorded at the assay office and in 1780 Jonathan Mappin was given the Freedom of the Cutlers Company. The ‘Cutlers Company of Hallamshire’, to give it its full title, was incorporated in 1624 to provide jurisdiction over those making cutlery near Sheffield and to promote Sheffield as a place of expertise.
The Company and Sheffield’s cutlery trade and reputation still exist to this day. Jonathan Mappin’s son Joseph followed him into the business and was also a Freeman, then came his grandson, also called Joseph.
But it was under his four great grandsons, who incorporated the business as Mappin Brothers Ltd, in the middle of the 19th Century that the significant expansion began – at the time, the youngest brother, Jonathan Newton Mappin, was only 14 years old.
In 1849, Joseph Mappin opened his first eponymous London showroom at 15 Fore Street; shortly afterwards the eldest brother was knighted, becoming Sir William Mappin, but as the business grew the brothers each took a different path.
![Historic Image of a Mappin & Webb Boutique](/medias/our-history-family-1.jpg?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MjcwODQyfGltYWdlL2pwZWd8aGU0L2g3Mi84ODM3MDE2MDU5OTM0LmpwZ3w2NWY3ZWFiMDQ0MjgyZWVmMzZlOTc1MDExMTYwZmE2NmIyMzVjYzNjZjZhZmRmOTgxMGMwMjNhZjA2ZDgyNjdk&imwidth=960)
![Historic Image of a Mappin & Webb Boutique](/medias/our-history-family-2.jpg?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MjgzMDQwfGltYWdlL2pwZWd8aDQyL2hiOS84ODM3MDE2MTI1NDcwLmpwZ3xjNWE0NWJjZjY3ODNmYzhkYzRhZWMyYmM2ZDY4MjdlMGU4NThkYjM2Mzk5MWJhNThmNmU5YjE5YzkzMDFhMTkw&imwidth=960)
Sir William Mappin left in 1859, to become the senior partner at Thomas Turton & Sons’ steel mill, and gave his share of Mappin Brothers to the other three. In 1860, John Mappin, the youngest but by now 22 years old, broke away from Mappin Brothers and started his own business Mappin & Company opening the first Mappin store in 1860 at 77-78 Oxford Street, London. John Mappin was joined in the new adventure two years later by his brother-in-law George Webb.
The 1890s then spearheaded four decades of expansion for the brand. Our first overseas store was established in Johannesburg with the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand and stores soon followed in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo, Biarritz and Nice, Lausanne and Vichy, Paris and Rome, Hong Kong and Shanghai, Cairo and Mumbai \(formerly called Bombay\).
![Image of Historic Catalogue Covers and International Stores](/medias/our-history-family-3.jpg?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MzI4MTk3fGltYWdlL2pwZWd8aGMxL2g1Mi84ODM3MDE2OTQ0NjcwLmpwZ3wyMjcyMWFlOTJiNzU1NzRjZWZlZjE0MThmMzBiM2M4MWNmODFiM2E5MWExMmY2ZmNkOWFjMjY5NmI2OTdlZTBh&imwidth=1920)
Mappin & Webb
Our Timeline
Discover our historic timeline, with key events depicted by year.
Mappin & Webb is founded by Jonathon Mappin
First Mappin & Webb store opens in London at 77/78 Oxford St
Charles Dickens purchases a Mappin & Webb Claret Jug
The first overseas branch opened in Johannesburg and this formed the decade of overseas expansion for Mappin & Webb
Granted a Royal Warrant as Silversmiths to Queen Victoria
Mappin & Webb's acclaimed Campaign watch is supplied to troops at the battle of Omdurman
Granted a Royal Warrant by the Russian Imperial Household
Houdini visits Mappin & Webb's sheffield factory to acquire silver gifts
International Store expansion follows in Buenos Aires, Paris, Lausanne, Nice, Vichy, Rome, Cairo, Shanghai and Biarritz, Hong Kong and Mumbai (formerly called Bombay)
Solid silver bedroom service created for an Indian Maharaja
Mappin & Webb supplies watches to the Admirality
The First World War saw the company's Sheffield factory given over to the war effort
Mappin & Webb creates a silver commemorative piece for Amy Johnson's solo flight from England to Australia
Store in Japan opens
The Second World War saw war efforts recommence, whilst the Paris boutique was seized
Mappin & Webb is invited to showcase products at the Festival of Britain
Mappin & Webb supplies Winston Churchill's pocket watches and solid gold ashtrays
Royal Warrant Holder and Court Jeweller Carrington & Co (Established in 1834) is acquired by Mappin & Webb
Grace Kelly becomes patron of the Edinburgh store
Mappin & Webb opens in Selfridges with the world's most expensive luggage set, in excess of a quarter of a million pounds
Granted a Royal warrant as Silversmiths to His Royal Higness The Prince of Wales
Mappin & Webb craftsmen appointed as the Crown Jeweller
Mappin & Webb becomes an official sponsor of the Princes Trust
Mappin & Webb's design team begin reinventing Mappin & Webb's heritage in new and unexpected ways
A silver statue of the Duke of Wellington is commissioned by the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards to commememorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo
Mappin & Webb re-issues it's famed Campaign watch
A new flagship store re-opens at 132 Regent Street marking a new and exciting chapter in the brand's history
Mappin & Webb continues to serve Her Majesty The Queen as a Royal Warrant Holder
© 2024 Mappin & Webb
Mappin & Webb is a trading name of Watches of Switzerland Company Limited. Registered Office: Aurum House, 2 Elland Road, Braunstone, Leicester, LE3 1TT, Registered in England and Wales, Company number 00146087. Registered VAT Number 834 8634 04. Watches of Switzerland Company Limited acts as a broker and not a lender and offers finance from Secured Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance and PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH trading as PayPal Credit. Watches of Switzerland Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Finance Conduct Authority. Our registration number is 308710. Credit provided is subject to age and status, minimum spend applies. Terms and Conditions apply. UK residents only. We may receive a commission if your application is successful, and the amount may vary depending on the product chosen and the amount of credit taken out. Not all products are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and FOS protection will not be extended to unregulated agreements. Please note the Consumer Credit Act states that should your purchase / loan amount cost more than £30,000 you will not be covered under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
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