Cox & Sons, a prominent London-based firm founded in 1837, initially specialised in church furnishings but expanded their scope in the 1860s and 1870s to include fashionable art furniture and decorative objects.
This period marked the height of their success, as they embraced the growing demand for artistic, handcrafted furniture inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. By 1870 a catalogue of Cox & Sons claimed to be able to supply 800 designs of furniture, Gothic metalwork, carpets and hangings by ‘eminent church designers’. The firm worked with leading designers of the time, including B.J. Talbert, S.J. Nicholls, G. Goldie, J. Moyr Smith, O.W. Davis, C. Rossiter and E.W. Godwin.
Bruce Talbert, an influential designer and architect, played a significant role in shaping the firm’s aesthetic. Known for his Gothic Revival designs and intricate use of ornamentation, Talbert’s work for Cox & Sons helped solidify their reputation as creators of high-quality, artistic furniture. His influence is particularly evident in the detailed woodwork and decorative panels that became a hallmark of Cox & Sons’ output.
John Moyr Smith also contributed to the firm’s artistic offerings, particularly through his tile designs, such as The Winds series, which were incorporated into both tile collections and painted furniture panels. Charles Rossiter provided figurative designs, further enhancing Cox & Sons’ reputation for merging art and utility.
By the late 19th century, Cox & Sons had established themselves as leaders in Victorian art furniture design
