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Hukin & Heath

Also known as: Hukin & Heath; primary name: Hukin & Heath
Details: organisation; manufacturer/factory; British
Other dates: 1855-1953
Biography: The firm of Hukin & Heath (1855-1953) was established by Jonathan Wilson Hukin and John Thomas Heath as manufacturing silversmiths and electroplaters. They entered silver marks in London in 1879, by which time they had established showrooms at 19 Charterhouse Street, Holborn (J.Culme, 'The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914', Woodbridge 1987, 1, 243). The firm's collaboration with Dresser was noted by 'The Art Journal', 1879, 222: the showrooms were described as 'redolent of art', while the art works were produced without increasing the cost, exhibiting 'grace combined with the useful, simplicity and purity of form with readiness of application to the purposes to which they are to be applied'. Hukin & Heath also apparently made reproductions of Persian and Japanese models 'by the electric process' (i.e. electrotyped): 'such specimens, being selected by Dr Dresser, are of course always beautiful examples of art'. Hukin & Heath's trade mark comprised the initials 'H & H' with an eagle; they registered designs by Dresser from 1878 until at least 1881 and the models were produced into the early 1900s. The firm's design books were destroyed before it closed down in 1953. Hukin & Heath also had silver wares executed to Dresser designs which were hallmarked in London
Bibliography: J.Culme, 'The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914', Woodbridge 1987, 1, Birmingham 1973, City Museum and Art Gallery, 'Birmingham Gold and Silver 1773-1973

7 related objects

cruet; cruet-set; cruet-stand

Museum number: 1982,1204.1 |
Producer name: Designed by:Christopher DresserFactory of:Hukin & Heath |
Production date: 1878 1878-1900 |
Production place: Factory in:Birmingham (West Midlands)Factory in:London (England)

cruet-set; mustard-pot; bottle; salt-shaker; pepper-pot; cruet-stand

Museum number: 1980,0202.1 |
Producer name: Designed by:Christopher DresserFactory of:Hukin & Heath |
Production date: 1878 1878-1900 |
Production place: Factory in:Birmingham (West Midlands)Factory in:London (England)

jug

Museum number: 2009,8049.2 |
Producer name: BIOG72038 Made by:Hukin & Heath |
Production date: 1881 |
Production place: Factory in:Birmingham (West Midlands)Made in:Stourbridge

kettle; kettle-stand; kettle-burner

Museum number: 1980,1111.1 |
Producer name: Designed by:Christopher DresserFactory of:Hukin & Heath |
Production date: 1878 1878-1900 |
Production place: Factory in:Birmingham (West Midlands)Factory in:London (England)

kettle

Museum number: 1980,0518.1 |
Producer name: Designed by:Christopher DresserFactory of:Hukin & Heath |
Production date: 1878 1878-1900 |
Production place: Factory in:Birmingham (West Midlands)Factory in:London (England)

letter-rack

Museum number: 1980,1014.1 |
Producer name: Designed by:Christopher DresserFactory of:Hukin & Heath |
Production date: 1881 1881-1900 |
Production place: Factory in:Birmingham (West Midlands)Factory in:London (England)

tureen; ladle

Museum number: 1982,1102.1 |
Producer name: Designed by:Christopher DresserFactory of:Hukin & Heath |
Production date: 1880 1880-1900 |
Production place: Factory in:Birmingham (West Midlands)Factory in:London (England)

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