A Victorian silver and glass 'leaf' dish, Leuchars & Son, London 1887

Leuchars & Son was established in 1794 at 47 Piccadilly, London¹ by James Leuchars (1759-1823), a native of Kinclaven, Perth, Scotland. He was already in London by 1 November 1784, the date of his marriage at St. Mary, Marylebone to Sarah Holmes (1765-1800). The first of their two daughters, Harriot Martha, was baptised at St. James’s, Piccadilly on 6 August 1786. An early advertisement for Leuchars’s business reads:

‘J. LEUCHARS, Fancy Head-Dress Maker to her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, No. 47, Piccadilly, London,

‘BEGS leave to acquaint the Ladies and Gentlemen of Edinburgh, and its vicinity, that during the Race Week he will attend at Mr BROWN’s No. 17, George Street, where he has for SALE a great variety of ELASTIC HEAD-DRESSES for both sexes, on a New and Improved Principle, which he doubts not but on trial will be found to give every satisfaction. - He takes this opportunity of returning most sincere thanks to his numerous Friends for past favours, and assures them it shall ever be his study to merit their future kindness.

‘N.B. FEATHERS, FLOWERS, &c.’²

Following the death of his first wife, Leuchars married Lucy Friend (1777-1847) at St. Marylebone on 28 November 1800, by whom he had three sons and three daughters, including James (1802-1850) and William (1804-1871). At this time the emphasis of Leuchars’s business changed from that of furnishing headdresses, &c., to that of a perfumer, toyman and dressing case maker, &c. In 1821, shortly after moving to new premises, he advertised: ‘FRENCH RETICULES, at very low prices; also an immense variety of PEARL COUNTERS and CARD BOXES. - J. LEUCHARS begs to inform the Nobility and Gentry, that he has just imported the above articles in a greater variety than was ever before exhibited to the Public: he has also a new and useful article in Work Boxes, with a splendid assortment of Dressing Cases, Writing Desks, Buhl and Ebony Inkstands, Chess Men, both India and English, and every kind of Chess and Backgammon Tables, at 38, Piccadilly, three doors from Sackville-street.’³

James Leuchars senior died on Sunday, 29 December 1822, after which the business was carried on by his widow until she was joined in the mid 1830s by her son, William, after which the style was changed to Mrs. Lucy Leuchars & Son. Following Mrs. Leuchars death on 9 February 1847,⁴ William took sole control. At the Great Exhibition of 1851 he won a Prize Medal for dressing cases. By 1871 the firm was trading as William Leuchars & Son following the introduction into the partnership of William Leuchars’s son, also William (1842-1909).

In early 1868 Leuchars opened a branch in Paris: ‘La Maison W. Leuchars de Londres vient d’établir, 34, rue de Penthièvre (au premier), un dépôt de ses produits: sacs de voyage, nécessaires et papeteries de luxe.’⁵ By early 1874 a permanent branch in Paris was opened at 2 Rue de la Paix.⁶

In 1884 Leuchars & Son absorbed the manufacturing concern of H.W. & L. Dee of Sherwood Street, Golden Square, Soho, upon the death of the active partner, Louis Dee (1831-1884).⁷

In 1902 Leuchars was amalgamated with Asprey’s of New Bond Street. ‘The lease of 38 and 39, Piccadilly has been sold and the combined businesses will be carried on after September 29 at 165-6 New Bond Street. To facilitate this arrangement the whole stock of LEUCHARS & SON is now being offered at reductions variety from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. off the regular marked priced, for Cash Only. 38 and 39, PICCADILLY.’⁸

Notes

1. On the corner of Sackville Street, Piccadilly, opposite St. James’s Church.

2. Caledonian Mercury, Edinburgh, Saturday, 11 July 1801, p. 1c

3. The Morning Chronicle, London, Wednesday, 28 February 1821, p. 1c

4. The Morning Herald, London, Wednesday, 10 February 1847, p. 7f

5. Le Figaro, Paris, Thursday, 26 March 1868, p. 2f

6. Le Figaro, Paris, Thursday, 12 March 1874, p. 4d, advertisement

7. John Culme, The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Woodbridge, 1987, vol. I, pp. 116 and 117

8. The Westminster Gazette, London, Wednesday, 9 July 1902, p. 6c