Hancocks & Co

Hancocks & Co is a retail jeweller in London, founded on January 1, 1849 by Charles F. Hancock, a former partner of Storr and Mortimer. The first shop was opened at a corner of Bruton Street and New Bond Street, in London. It has moved several times since then. Hancocks has become notable for the manufacture of the Victoria Cross medals and also for the various Royal Warrants that it holds.

History

The Great Exhibition at The Crystal Palace.

Hancocks first gallery opened at a corner of Bruton Street and New Bond Street, in London in 1849. Hancocks subsequently moved in 1917 to Vigo Street, in 1970 to Burlington Gardens and 1998 to its current location at 52 & 53 Burlington Arcade. Hancocks has exhibited at several renowned exhibitions. The first exhibition that Hancocks attended was The Great Exhibition of 1851 at The Crystal Palace in London. It then participated in exhibitions in Paris in 1867 and Vienna in 1873 where Hancocks was awarded medals of excellence. Hancocks continues to participate in major exhibitions such as Grosvenor House, Maastricht and New York.[1]

Royal Appointments and Warrants

On 13 August 1849, after only eight months in business, Hancocks received the Royal Appointment of Queen Victoria. Many of the principal sovereigns of Europe also became regular patrons. There can be little doubt that the rapid expansion by Charles Hancock during the formative years of the Company led to Hancocks being entrusted with the design and production of the Victoria Cross on the inception of the award in 1856.[2] This medal is still made exclusively by Hancocks.[3]

In 1962 the Company was granted the Royal Warrant as Goldsmiths and Silversmiths to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Current business

Hancocks founded in 1849 is still family owned by Stephen and Janie Burton, and is one of London's oldest specialist dealers buying and selling rare and collectable jewels.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Hancocks of London History of VC". Hancocks of London events. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  2. ↑ "Hancocks of London History of VC". Hancocks of London. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  3. ↑ Imperial War Museum. "The Victoria Cross". archive.iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Hancocks of London today". Hancocks of London. Retrieved 2007-06-24.

External links

Media related to Hancocks & Co at Wikimedia Commons