Phillips W P & G Phillips Phillips & Pearce Phillips & Co Phillips Ltd

Location and period of operation:

Phillips were London retailers of china and glass ware - their advertisements state that they were established in 1760. Phillips were retailers of quality Staffordshire pottery, amongst others.  

• The business was started by George Phillips at Oxford Street, London - the premises were ‘next to the Pantheon’ (the elegant prototype of the modern ‘hypermarket’, which opened in January 1772)

• There may well have been a family connection with two firms of Staffordshire potters: Edward & George Phillips, of Longport, Burslem (a firm which flourished 1822–34, and was continued as George Phillips 1834–48), and Jacob Phillips of Shelton, who was in partnership with John Denton Bagster from 1818–25, continuing the firm after Bagster's death until it was closed down in 1828. 

• After George Phillips's death, the business was carried on by his two sons, Jacob and Jonathan, at least until the 1830s. 

• The firm seems later to have continued.. 

  • firstly as W.P. & G. Phillips, at 358–359 Oxford Street until 1897 (and also at 155 New Bond Street, c.1858–89), 

  • then as Phillips & Co., Mount Street, Grosvenor Square c.1897–1906 

  • and probably finally as Phillips Ltd, 43–44 Bond Street, c.1908–29. 

• The Managing Director of Phillips Ltd was James Leather who retired in 1927 

• It is recorded that George Phillips' widow spent her last years with one of her sons at Hanley in the heart of the North Staffordshire potteries.

• At sometime the Phillips name was acquired by the large Lawley Group and ware was sold with a Lawleys/Philips mark at least into the late 1960s. 

 

Guide to dating:

The following changes in name and address gives an approximate guide to dating:

W P & G Phillips	358-359 Oxford Street	c.1858-82
W P & G Phillips	175, 177, 179 Oxford Street *	c.1882-97
W P & G Phillips	155 New Bond Street	c.1859-89 [at sometime as Phillips & Pearce]
Phillips & Co	15-21 Mount Street	c.1897-1906
Phillips Ltd	43-44 New Bond Street	c.1908-29

 

* it is uncertain if this change of number from 358-9 to 175-179 Oxford Street was because of a change of premises
   or a renumbering of property numbers. 
 

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1859 advert for W P & G Phillips

China & Glass
(Wedgwood's warerooms, next (to) the Pantheon)
The best selected stock of Minton's Goods

 

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From the 1862 London Exhibition Catalogue

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1876 invitation by Messrs W P & G Phillips 

 

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Obituary Mr James Leather Managing Director of Phillips Ltd New Bond Street London Pottery & Glass Trade Review

Phillips of 43/44 Bond Street. "My grandfather, James Leather was the manager and main shareholder of the business and the shop was very successful for many years.  James Leather always had an eye to expand the business so he floated it on the stock exchange. Unfortunately, as a result of the financial crash of the 1920s and some unethical dealings James Leather discovered that all the new shareholders turned out to be owned by one man, an international business man called Charles Hattray.  My uncle John Leather, one of James’s sons told me that four men went prison as a result of this fraud. Phillips went into liquidation and my grandfather lost everything.  Edgar Lawley bought all the stock and some of the showcases and took them to Lawleys in Regent street.  During his time at Phillips my grandfather had a number of well known clients, one of whom was Queen Mary. She was a regular and they got on well together but paying for goods was not one of her strong points. However, she did award him with the Royal Warrant which must have been good for his business."   information supplied by: Graham Leather, Grandson of James Leather

details of the heraldic symbols on a set of plate which have both the Phillips and Phillips & Pearce marks shown manufacturer unknown

Phillips 359 Oxford St 155 New Bond St London

Phillips & Pearce 155 New Bond St London

photos courtesy:  Michael Selwyn 

Examples of pottery companies manufacturing for Phillips:

- more on Doulton -

- more on Mintons - 

Phillips's Mount St London. W c.1904-1906 Mark on ware supplied by Cauldon Ltd

Phillips's 43-44 New Bond Street c.1908-1920 these marks appear on various items  in the same dinner set

- more on Cauldon Ltd -

Wedgwood England Phillips's Ltd 43 & 44 New Bond St London c.1908-29 - more on Wedgwood -

Crown Staffordshire England Phillips's Ltd 43 & 44 New Bond St London. W c.1908-29 - more on Crown Staffordshire -

Lawley/Phillips marks

At sometime the Phillips name was acquired by Lawleys and some ware produced in the Lawley Group was sold with a Lawleys/Philips mark.
The 'Regent Street' was probably in Cheltenham. 

- more on the Lawley Group 

Lawleys Regent Street Philips's Estd 1760  Generic mark

Royal Albert Crown China  more on Royal Albert

Shelley  more on Shelley China

Adderley Ware  more on Adderleys

Questions, comments, contributions? email: Steve Birks