About
about us
Frazer and Haws is a 150 years old British heritage brand that creates heritage pieces which are put together as Art-in-Silver. Frazer and Haws prides itself for being commissioned by silverware collectors, and form an integral part of private collections. Our clientele includes The Prince of Wales, The Maharaja of Nepal, other heads of state and notable families around the world.
What distinguishes us from others is our limited edition original designs, all of which are hallmarked with the purityof 92.5% sterling silver. We are the first international silversmiths in the country to produce contemporary design-craft by combining various materials like metal, wood, resin, and stone.
the choice of queen & more
These accomplished skills have bolstered Frazer and Haws to serve the needs of the baronial and the imperial requirements of eminent statesmen like Queen Victoria, Queen Mary, Mr. and Mrs.Winston Churchill, Edwina – Countess Mountbatten, Admiral Lord Nelson, Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Queen Alexandra and Edward VII, Elton John, and the contemporary film fraternity, amongst who are Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Yash Raj Chopra, Rani Mukherjee.
Frazer and Haws has set a precedent in the world of meticulously crafted silverware. To set a benchmark in the world of crafted masterpieces, the ancestral expertise of the skilled kaarigars has played a vital role. They are specially trained by London-based silversmiths.
LEGACY OF FRAZER & HAWS
The story of Frazer and Haws began over two hundred and fifty years ago with David Hennell opening the first house of Hennell in 1736, producing the finest English traditional silver that soon graced the most opulent tables in Europe. In 1795, a magnificent black pearl, ruby and diamond necklace belonging to Queen Marie Antoinette of France was entrusted to Robert, David Hennell's son, to be sold.
Perhaps it was the sheer magic of this breathtaking piece which inspired Robert to devote his talents to the creation of fine jewellery in addition to the unique silverware which was a continuation of the tradition of his father's craft Robert Hennell established premises in the fashionable Bloomsbury area of London, and undertook commissions from the titled and privileged, translating his passion for beauty into what were to become unique collections of jewellery.
John Frazer and Edward Haws set up Frazer and Haws in 1869 as a subsidiary unit for Hennell. ln no time Frazer and Haws metamorphosed into a synonym for perfection. And from Queen Victoria to Cherie Blair, in the last 130 years some of the most exquisite silverware has been churned out for an enviable clientele.
THE FOUNDING PARTNERS - JOHN FRAZER AND EDWARD HAWS
Frazer And Haws craft is more than just beautiful. It’s founding partners, John Frazer and Edward Haws who formerly worked with Crown Jeweller, Garrard & Co, registered their hallmark in 1869 at London’s Worshipful Goldsmiths’ Hall, and began retail in Europe’s most elegant street then, 31, Regent Street, on the 1st of January.
One of Frazer And Haws’s first customer was Her Majesty Queen Victoria of Great Britain. The Silver Tea set crafted by Frazer And Haws in c1895 is inspired by the Indian lotus, which showsthe influence of the Orient and Indian symbols had deeply impressed the design sensibilities oftop silversmiths and jewellers of England.
HALLMARK
All Frazer and Haws products have three unique marks punched on the surface. Known as ‘hallmarks’ these guarantee the content of the silver used in the item.
The Frazer and Haws hallmark is registered with the Hall of Assays in London. Hallmarking, first introduced in 1300, has acted as a safeguard for gold and silver purchasers ever since. It is one of the most important forms of consumer protection and now also covers platinum. The first mark is the ‘Sponsor’s Mark’ indicating the products manufacturer. The second is the ‘Standard Mark’ denoting the precious metal content of the alloy from which the item is made. The last one, ‘Date Letter’ shows the year in which the article was hallmarked.
With a purity of 92.5% sterling silver, there is a wide agglomeration of
TRADITION - SILVER AND ITS GLORIOUS PAST
In the last 1000 years of European history silverware has been used to impress visiting dignitaries with its opulent designs and the extent of holdings of precious metals. Henry VIII of England laid out a seven-course buffet in silver, a large ornate collection, to impress upon the French King's emissary towards the wealth and
power of England. Silver and gold were also the currency for trade and expense. Collections of precious metal was as much an exhibition of art and lifestyle, as it was an investment for expensive times of war. Alexander the Great's conquest of Asia Minor is replete with silver coins struck by a coin mint carried by the army.
Soldiers were paid in silver coins with the portrait of Alexander. The wealth and power of Alexander the Great 2000 years later is still measured by the extent of personalized precious metal from that period.
During the seventeenth century, silverware became prominent everywhere. It was engraved and hallmarked, thereby enriching history. Following the tradition of their monarch, the aristocracy began to collect silver flat ware, and indulged in expensive gifting on a grand scale, as per their position in society.
The Church of Rome commissioned silversmiths for exquisite religious articles. Cathedral and churches in Europe were the largest patrons of precious metals. Queen Elizabeth ll of England insisted that the silversmiths
and goldsmiths of London innovate new styles and designs. Since emissaries were perpetually traveling, each noble host presented its best face by sending unique gifts of notable craftsmanship and a fresh flourish in design. lt can be safely said that till today Captains of large industry, State dignitaries, as well as emissaries of powerful families, extensively gift silverware, as a representation of their worth.
