Shepheard & Company, 104 Regent Street, London (Quadrant area Regent Street)
silversmiths, goldsmiths, jewellers and retailers.
Below is a late 19th century description of Shepheard & Co
ILLUSTRATED LONDON AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMERCE 1893
The London Printing and Engraving Co.
MESSRS. SHEPHEARD & COMPANY, THE COMBINATION OF MANUFACTURING GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS, WATCHMAKERS AND DIAMOND BROKERS,
104, REGENT STREET, W.
"Prominent among the leading West End firms engaged in the goldsmith’s interesting trade stands that of Messrs. Shepheard & Company, whose important business was founded upwards of twenty years ago. A large and handsome establishment is occupied at the above address by this eminent firm, and the shop and show-rooms, being in a fine comer situation, are among the most attractive in Regent Street. All the advantages of the position are fully utilised, the spacious plate-glass frontage displaying a magnificent assortment of high-class jewellery, watches, and goldsmith’s and silversmith’s specialities, while the internal appointments of the place are fully in keeping with the select character of the trade carried on. Messrs. Shepheard & Company make a point of supplying the public feet with goods of their own manufacture, at a moderate profit on first cost of production, thus avoiding all the intermediate profits taken by factors and middlemen, and securing articles of guaranteed quality and finest workmanship at a saving of at least one-third on the usual retail prices. All Messrs. Shepheard & Company’s goods are marked in plain figures for cash only, without discount, so that a customer is never in danger of being imposed upon, he can make his selection from a vast and varied stock, knowing all the while the exact amount his purchase will cost, and relying implicitly upon the integrity of a firm whose bona fides have been proved by many years of straightforward dealing.
Being actual manufacturers as well as merchants, Messrs. Shepheard & Company can offer inducements in the matter of price which few retail houses can equal, and at the same time they adhere to the sound policy of selling only the highest class of goods. This firm’s stock is replete with the newest and choicest productions in goldsmith’s work, fine gold and diamond jewellery and ornaments, silver and electro-plated goods, &c., with many novelties of a highly attractive character. Among the latter is a newly introduced specialite, being a new sweetmeat dish in the form of an orchid flower of the genus Cattleya Labiata; the dish is of Doulton china, exquisitely painted in a variety of delicate tints, and exactly represents the natural flower, the stand supporting the dish is an orchid leaf, with the stalk gracefully fashioned to form the handle, and the spoon or server has also an orchid bowl to match; the tout ensemble makes a very charming addition to the table, the dish being useful for so many purposes, such as preserves, bonbons, jelly, sugar, butter, &c., and the price is without doubt exceedingly moderate, costing only in silver-plate 16s. 6d., or in solid silver, 75s. The firm have also produced the flower in a larger size as dessert dishes for fruit, cake or cards, and again in the form of very elegant little salt cellars. We have no hesitation in predicting a large sale for these novelties as they only require to be seen to be appreciated. The design is protected by registration.
Messrs. Shepheard & Company are just issuing a new edition of their elegant catalogue, which contains upwards of eight hundred beautiful designs of jewellery, diamonds, silver, and electro-plate, &c., and all the necessary particulars for making a selection. This interesting book will be sent post free to any part of the world upon application. The entire business is under the careful personal supervision of Mr. W. A. Shepheard, the experienced and courteous managing partner, and the house enjoys the support and confidence of a large and influential clientele."
This 1893 review of Shepheard & Co suggests Mr. W. A. Shepheard had started in the business around 1873 and would cover a complex partnership period with a George Joseph Reed in 2 firms, Shepheard and Reed, 104, Regent-street, London and Walters and George, 270 Regent-street, London. That partnership had ended in October 1889 and more information can be seen at the below reference.
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=30091&start=860#:~ ... /Jewellers
The website "silvermakersmarks.co.uk" shows Shepheard & Co registered silver marks with London and Birmingham assay offices and that mark, "S&Co", was the same at both offices. Registration at London was 1907 and items hallmarked in Birmingham have been noted in 1913 and from the below image of a circular jewellery box I can add 1911.
Our own Forum's, London, UK, hallmark reference section identifies another, earlier mark that is attributed to Shepheard & Co. Referencing "Culme" we show a "S&Co" in a simple rectangle with the "o" underlined and registered in 1891. This would be a possibility as that would be less than 2 years after the split from the previous partnership.
https://www.925-1000.com/dlLondon12.html
The next 2 images are more suggestive of retailing and are of a "French Made" clock and a large electroplated tray.
The last image of the spoon box silk is still indicating retailing as these elegant teaspoons were hallmarked for 1918 at Sheffield and made by William Hutton & Sons Ltd.
Fishless
