A good & large William Comyns antique solid silver & cut glass Scent Bottle C.1902

A good and large antique Edwardian globular Scent Bottle having a solid silver hinged cover decorated with a figural classical scene, the globe bottle deeply cut glass decorated with hobnail decoration etc… Bearing Londonhallmarks for 1902 and makers marks WC for William Comyns

Circa 1902

Good Antique Condition with tiny flea bites as expected only visible with a lens and an insignificant small impression on side of lid

4.25 inches (11cm) dia X 5.75 inches (14.5cm)height approx

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This important firm of manufacturing silversmiths was established by William Comyns c. 1859 when he purchased the business of Robert Tagg, itself said to have been founded about 1730. As yet efforts to trace the latter’s lineage have failed; it seems clear, however, that Tagg succeeded John Tapley at 40 Roupell Street, Waterloo Road. Tapley, a manufacturing silversmith, was probably the last of Rundell, Bridge & Co.’sout workers and is also known to have provided work for Robert Green & Coand Makepeace & Walford. Robert Tagg moved in 1857 to his new residence and manufactory at 2 Carlise Street, Soho Square, whereby in 1859 he was listed asa silversmith. William Comyns, thereafter listed as a silversmith, appears to have purchased the business in 1858 or early 1859, entering his first marks from the first same address. He moved to 1 Percy Mews, Rathbone Place, to 16 Silver Street, Golden Square, Soho, and subsequently to Beak Street, Regent Street. These premised were later expanded to 41, 43, and 45 Beak street and to 41, 43, 45, 47 Beak Street. Additional premised were taken from c. 1903 at 54 Marshall Street, Soh. The style of the firm was changed to William Comyns &Son c. 1885, when William Comyn’s two sons, Charles Harling Comyns and Richard Harling Comyns, were admitted to their partnership. William Comyns died in January 1916, and C.H. Comyns while attending a sale in Christie’s in 1925. The business was incorporated as a limited liability company as William Comyn’s& Sons Ltd., registered on 20th October 1930, with R.H. Comyns as permanent governing director. Upon the latter’s death in 1953, when the firm is said to have lost its former prominence, William Comyns & Sons Ltd was purchased by Bernard Copping. They are now one of the few surviving manufacturing silversmiths in London, with premises at Comyns House, Tower Street, London, WC2. William Comyns first appears to have made a significant impact in the early 1880s by supplying increasingly large numbers of decorative wares in silver, many of which were die-stamped. London retailers of their products at this period included Henry Lewis, Howell & James Ltd., etcetera