Page 8 - Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October Auction catalogue
P. 8
Crosse & Blackwell a short history
Jackson’s was a colonial produce business established in London in 1706, later becoming West & Wyatt specialising in
pickles, sauces and condiments, plus salted fish.
It held Royal appointments to George III, George
IV and William IV. Described as “oilmen and
salters,” West & Wyatt had factory premises at
11 King Street, now Shaftesbury Avenue, in Soho
in 1818, packaging and supplying sweet oils,
foods preserved in oil, and crystallised fruits and
preserves.
In 1819, the company was joined by two
apprentices: Edmund Crosse (1804–1862) and
Thomas Blackwell (1804-1879). In 1830 they
borrowed £600 from their families to buy the
business, which became known as Crosse &
Blackwell.The company was one of the first to secure
a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria, in 1837.
By 1839 the company had expanded moving its
offices and shop to 20-21 Soho Square. During the
following decade, it pioneered the use of celebrity
chefs as endorsers and collaborators, working with
Alexis Soyer from 1850 to create the tangy Soyer’s
Sauce, Soyer’s Relish and Soyer’s Sultana Sauce
products. It was also a wholesaler of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce. Crosse & Blackwell opened a vinegar brewery in Caledonian Road and started pickle packing at Soho Square (described by Henry Mayhew in his 1865 book The Shops and Companies of London, and the Trades and Manufactories of Great Britain, in a report entitled ‘Girls in Pickle’). Crosse & Blackwell also acquired a small Bermondsey canning firm, Gamble & Company, established in 1812 (as Donkin, Hall and Gamble) to produce preserved fruit, vegetables and meat supplying long distance vessels. In 1849, the
company also established a plant in Cork, Ireland
to produce canned salmon.
551. CROSSE & BLACKWELL’S ANCHOVY PASTE POT LID & BASE. 3.5ins diam. Brown transfer. - almost a painting scene with added lettering - boys
by waters edge, trees behind. Lid very good, couple of ‘egg’ type lines to the inside base rim . (9.5/10) NR £40-60+
549. CARTERS IMPERIAL SHAVING CREAM POT LID. 3ins diam. Black transfer - unusual white lettering on a dark black background. Crown motif to top with Prince of Wales feathers all
in a star design outer border. Note transfer to side - have you got the matching base perchance? Minute nibbles & slight surface edge wear. (9/10) NR £30-40+
545. PARIS POT LID.
3.5ins diam. CREME COSMETIQUE. Large
basket bursting with flowers to centre. Several lines of
mixed/ ornate lettering. (9/10) NR £30-40+
546. MUIRE BOUQUET SHAVING CREAM POT
LID. 3.25ins diam. Strong black transfer MUIRE
BOUQUET/ SHAVING CREAM.../
MUIRE ET CIE:
65 HARMOOD
ST N.W. & highly ornate/ elaborate floral detailing. See lot 15 BBR Auctions 8/ 7/18 for similar
- this much better.
(9.5/10) NR £40- 60+
547. SAVON ARASER POT LID. 4ins diam. Brown transfer. MORNY/
LONDON & PARIS within an unusually large & ornate outer border. A large & impressive lid. Slight
nibbles & some outer edge wear. (9/10) NR £30-40+
548. WILLIAMS SWISS VIOLET SHAVING CREAM
POT LID. 3.75ins diam. Several different colours to the
transfer - J. B. Williams Co./ Manufacturing
Chemist in centre in brown, ‘lilac & floral emblazons to L & outer border. Outer edge
552. PHILADELPHIA BEEF MARROW POT LID. 3ins diam. Black transfer ‘GENUINE BEEF MARROW/
nibbles & under edge chips but overall a really attractive lid. (8.5/10) NR
POMATUM/ EUGENE ROUSSEL within an outer leaf border, large
£60-80+
cow image to centre. Face is good,
underside discoloured/ restored - see extra image on easyliveauction.com.
Displays well. (9.5/10) £40-60+
550. LONDON SHAVING CREAM POT LID. 3.5ins diam. GAY & SON’S/ PRICE ONE SHILLING, Chinese Dragon motif to either side, grotesque face at bottom, fountain in centre. Some surface damage - letter ‘G’ & top R. Some edge nibbles, plus under edge chips but overall a fabulous looking design. (7/10) NR £20-30+
552A. MUSHROOM SAVOURY POT LID. 3.2ins diam. Very strong
& crisp red-brown transfer with
three large mushrooms to centre and large lettering around for Fortnum & Masons, smaller line inside. Tiny, tiny, tiny bottom edge glaze flake otherwise a very fine example. (9.7/10) NR £30-40+
553. BALKAN SOBRANIE CIGARETTES BOX. 3.75 x 6ins diam. Black transfer to both sides of lid. Images on outer sides of bottom half. Lid slightly damaged - see easyliveauction.com. (9.5/10) NR £40-60+