We are delighted to announce that a sugar bowl by John Hardman & Co. has been acquired for Birmingham’s collection, thanks to the generous support of the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Art Fund and the Ivan Witton Bequest.

This sugar bowl was probably designed by John Hardman Powell and was made in 1870 by John Hardman & Co., one of the most important Birmingham manufacturers of the 19th century. Hardman mainly specialised in metalwork and stained glass. They are mostly known for the work they produced for churches and public buildings – including the New Palace of Westminster (now known as the Houses of Parliament) – but they also made many items for domestic and personal use, like this sugar bowl.

The sugar bowl was commissioned by Charles Lygon Cocks (1821-85), a gentleman who lived in Cornwall and was a repeat customer of John Hardman & Co. There are already a few pieces which belonged to him in Birmingham’s collection. This includes a cream jug from 1851 and a coffee pot from 1860. It also includes a mustard pot, pepper pot and teapot which he ordered – alongside the sugar bowl – on the occasion of his marriage in 1870. The sugar bowl, which originally cost £10, is inscribed on the base with ‘The gift of Jemima A Cocks to Charles Lygon Cocks on his marriage 1870’. Eight objects were commissioned in celebration of this event for friends and family to gift to Cocks, only five of which have been traced. In acquiring this sugar bowl, Birmingham Museums Trust has therefore been able to reunite it with some of its original companions. 

The city of Birmingham holds an extensive archive of material relating to John Hardman & Co., which includes business records held at the Library of Birmingham and designs which are cared for by Birmingham Museums Trust. There is a sketch of this sugar bowl in the warehouse book for 1870, which is a visual record of all the objects Hardman designed and made that year. 

The firm of John Hardman & Co. remained in operation throughout the 20th century under various guises and only closed about 15 years ago. If you worked for Hardman at any point we’d love to hear from you and to learn your story –  please do get in touch. 

Purchased with support from the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund.