John Bridge

John Bridge was the co-founder in 1787 (with Philip Rundell) of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, goldsmith, jewellers and royal retailers to the Prince Regent.

Their London shop on Ludgate Hill in London had a huge stock of new and old silver, watches, jewellery and ‘objects of virtue’. Employing some of the best and most feted craftsmen of their day, by 1820 their enterprise spanned the globe with agencies in Paris, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Constantinople, Baghdad, Calcutta, Bombay and numerous cities in South America. Their fantastic success was probably due to a mixture of factors, not least the quality and beauty of their wares, as well as the ruthlessness of Rundell and Bridge’s great commercial acumen.

In 1797 they were appointed as one of the goldsmiths and jewellers to the King and went on to be the Principal Royal Goldsmiths and Jewellers in 1804. They held this Royal Warrant until 1843.

They were commissioned to provide the diplomatic gifts for the Congress of Vienna (1814-15) and made 22 snuff boxes worth 1000 guineas each.

Their roster of famous artists included John Flaxman and Thomas Stothard, well known designers and modellers of silverware. From 1802 their workshops were managed by a succession of notable silversmiths such as Benjamin Smith and Digby Scott the designer. In 1807 Paul Storr, the pre-eminent silversmith of the era took charge, leaving in 1819 to found his own workshops.

As Royal Goldsmiths they served four monarchs: George III, George IV, William IV and Victoria. They made the Imperial State Crown for Victoria’s coronation in 1838 which had 3,093 gems encrusted in it. They also made the ‘Rundell Tiara’ in 1863 for Princess Alexandra.

John Bridge died in 1834 but his nephews continued the family involvement in the firm.