Rundell & Bridge

Philip Rundell began his career as an apprentice to William Rodgers, a jeweller in Bath. In 1767, he moved to London and found work as a shop assistant for the goldsmith firm Theed & Pickett. He took over the business in 1785 following the death of Theed’s daughter, becoming its sole owner.

Shortly after, John Bridge joined as a partner, forming Rundell & Bridge—one of England’s most renowned jewellers and goldsmiths.

In 1797, the firm was appointed Royal Goldsmiths and Jewellers, a title it held until 1843, serving four monarchs from George III to Queen Victoria. While both Rundell and Bridge were master craftsmen, they were also astute businessmen, employing some of the most skilled silversmiths of their time. In 1807, they persuaded Paul Storr—widely regarded as England’s greatest silversmith—to join the company. Storr was instrumental in producing some of the firm’s most elaborate pieces, but he left in 1819 to establish his own workshop.

Rundell & Bridge operated from 32 Ludgate Hill, London, near St. Paul’s Cathedral, in premises described as “sumptuous.” The firm became known for its opulence, catering to the British aristocracy and European royalty, including Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Their commissions often featured grand, neoclassical designs, reflecting the tastes of the Regency era.

The firm produced some of the most spectacular pieces of the period, including the Diamond Diadem, worn by George IV for his procession to Westminster Abbey, and the ‘Grand Service’—a silver-gilt dining set of over 4,000 pieces commissioned by George IV for Carlton House, now part of the Royal Collection Trust. They also created the lavish ‘Wellington Shield,’ presented to the Duke of Wellington in 1822 to commemorate his victory at Waterloo, and the ‘Hercules Candelabrum,’ an immense silver centrepiece weighing over 600 ozt.

Rundell & Bridge reached its peak in the early 19th century, thriving in the wake of Britain’s naval victories over Napoleon. By then, they had built a vast silver enterprise, trading across South America, India, Europe, and the Middle East. Their influence extended beyond their own workshops, as they controlled a network of suppliers, retailers, and artisans, giving them dominance over the luxury silver market.

Rundell retired in 1823, marking the beginning of the firm's decline. He died in 1827, while Bridge remained in business until his death in 1834. His nephew, John Gawler Bridge, continued operations, but without the vision and leadership of its founders, the firm struggled to maintain its dominance. In 1843, Rundell & Bridge was dissolved, bringing an end to what had been one of the most prestigious goldsmithing enterprises of the Georgian and Regency eras.