Hippocampus

The Hippocampus is a mythical creature associated with Poseidon, the Greek god of the ocean. Its top half is a horse (head, neck and forelegs) and lower part is a fish, usually a dolphin, though sometimes a serpent. Featured in ancient Greek art, the Hippocampus is literally a sea-horse – ‘hippos’ meaning horse...

His Master’s Voice

Abbreviated HMV is a famous trademark in the music business and was the unofficial name of a large British record label for many years. The name came from a painting of a dog (Nipper) listening to a large wind-up gramophone painted by the English artist Francis Barraud A.R.A and called ‘His Master’s Voice’....

Hobbs & Co

Alfred Charles Hobbs (1812 – 1891) was born in Boston in America. He became a salesman for one of America’s foremost lock manufacturers – Jones & Newell in 1840. He travelled to London for the 1851 Great Exhibition and caused a storm when he managed to pick both a Bramah lock and also the famous...

Howard & Sons

Howard and Sons became known as one of the Victorian era’s best upholstered chair makers rivalling Gillows of Lancaster for the quality and style of their furniture. They were founded in 1820 by John Howard who was listed as a cabinet maker They worked together with Gillows on many occasions making upholstered...

Howell, James & Co

Howell, James & Co – were well known silversmiths and jewellers based in Regent Street, London operating between 1819 and 1911. Starting off as silk mercers and retail jewellers, they rapidly expanded, employing some 140 women who lived over the shop, reputedly each having their own room! They stocked high quality...

Hukin & Heath

Hukin & Heath were a Birmingham based manufacturing silversmiths and electroplaters. Set up in 1855, the firm entered its first mark in Birmingham in 1875 and then a mark in the London Assay Office in 1879. Their manufacturing premises were based in Birmingham and their showrooms were based in Charterhouse Street...

Humidor

A Humidor is a box or room kept at a constant humidity for storing cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco or any other object that needs to be kept at a controlled level of moisture to ensure its best quality or performance. Humidors come in a range of materials including acrylic glass or wood for the smaller […]

Imari

Imari porcelain was the European name for Japanese porcelain goods made in the town of Arita and exported from the port of Imari, specifically for the European export trade. There are many types of ‘Imari’ porcelain, however, the type most associated in Western minds with Imari is the type that was exported in...

Intaglios

Are items made from cutting, carving or engraving into a flat surface. Originally used for creating seals, they were moulded out of white plaster, marble dust or wax. The original 19th century intaglios, also made from wood or stone, depicted scenes from ancient Greece and Rome and were collected as Grand Tour...

Ivory

Ivory is the hard white substance (dentine) derived from the tusks (traditionally elephants) and teeth of animals. Whilst most people think of ivory as coming from elephants, the tusks and teeth of any animal count as ivory. Ivory has been used as a material for decorative arts since antiquity with the ancient...

Makers, Periods & Styles Library

Hippocampus

His Master’s Voice

Hobbs & Co

Howard & Sons

Howell, James & Co

Hukin & Heath

Humidor

Imari

Intaglios

Ivory

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