James Shoolbred & Co or also known as Jas Shoolbred was established in the 1820’s as a draper’s shop, at Tottenham Court Road, London. The company first began supplying textiles to the furniture trade. By the 1860’s, the company began designing, manufacturing and selling its own high quality antique furniture in their thriving and fashionable furniture shop. By the 1880’s, Jas Shoolbred had expanded to such an extent that the business had to move to larger premises, becoming one of the first large department stores in London, who would supply quality antique furniture and accessories for the Victorian home. Their furniture was displayed in a series of catalogues that the company produced every year, with their new and impressive designs. James Shoolbred’s furniture was always displayed and photographed alongside the textiles, carpets and other accessories that the company sold, creating an example of interior design for customers to view. Jas Shoolbred was granted a Royal warrant by the mid-1880s and their Victorian furniture was of the best quality available of the late Victorian period. Unfortunately, as with most great Victorian designers and furniture makers, James Shoolbred & Co didn’t survive the financial crisis of the late 1920’s and ceased trading in 1931. You can see some wonderful examples for sale and if you are interested in buying high quality pieces like this look at our wonderful inventory on our website at antiques world.
Previous examples include
This Superb Quality Golden Oak Four Door Antique Bookcase has the original makers ivorine label of “James Shoolbred & Co” is still present on the interior side of a door.
This Splendid Quality Victorian Shoolbred Antique Walnut Chest Of Drawers dates from around 1880 and has graduating mahogany lined drawers with moulded edges and beautifully figured fronts with decorative handles.
This Edwardian Mahogany Antique Display Cabinet has astragal glazing and fine carvings along the edges with spade feet.
This Rare 19th century Victorian Country House Arts & Crafts Parquetry Oak Antique Centre Table has an octagonal moulded top with amazing Parquetry inlays above four turned supports, four splayed legs and this magnificent antique table.
This Striking Arts And Crafts Victorian Figured Rosewood Inlaid Games Table is of superb quality, with stunning floral inlaid edges, decorative inlaid frieze and four unusual spiral twist legs with castors.
Constructed by the renowned makers JAS Shoolbred, this spectacular satin birch pedestal desk dates from around 1890. With a rectangular moulded top and tooled leather writing insert above a central drawer over knee hole. Each pedestal has four graduating mahogany lined drawers with brass arts and crafts handles.
This Shoolbred writing desk circa, 1880 has unusual decorative blind fretwork carvings and the original brass handles.
This late 19th Century Quality Victorian Walnut Antique Tray Top Table is by the renowned makers Jas Shoolbred & Co ca. 1880. It is very unusual with a removable glass tray top, having moulded edges and brass handles. This sits on a four out-swept supports with fine leafy carvings and this elegant antique Victorian table has two lower tiers, the central having a Brass gallery.
This late 19th Century Antique Kidney Shaped Writing Desk is made in Mahogany with fine inlays made by Jas Shoolbred & Co ca. 1880. It has satinwood cross banded edge, boxwood and ebony string inlay and a stunning tooled leather writing insert.
71 Comments. Leave new
We have a lovely little davenport which we acquired at an auction, it has jas shoolbred on the inside of a draw and vr on one of the hinges, can you tell us anything about this piece of furniture, we are very excited about finding the name and secret draw. regards
Hi
It is something we would need to look at in the flesh to offer any information, but with the label, I am sure it is a very fine quality piece
Kind regards
James
Hello, I have a Jas Schoolbred dressing table I would like to sell. It is in need of a bit of tlc. I really don’t know the best way to go about selling it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mrs C Moss
Hi
I would try your local auctioneer as they can usually offer a free valuation
Kind regards
James
Hi, I have a tapestry seat chair with a plaque underneath that says JAS Shoolbred & Co. (I live in Australia.) Someone else viewed the plaque and said that he thought it was a modern reproduction, not an antique, because the plaque looked too nice and new. Do you know how I can discern whether it’s a genuine antique or reproduction? The website link above is to the eBay listing which shows pictures of the chair including the plaque underneath. thanks! – Lisa
I think this looks to be a Genuine JAS Shoolbred chair but probably from the 1920s and a copy of an earlier design.
I recently purchased a very large (91″ x 91″) James Shoolbred wardrobe. One drawer is missing a pull. Does anyone have a suggestion for finding a replacement? Thanks.
Hi
I usually find a good place to look is ebay as i have had success finding matching old handles on there but other than that you would have to replace them all with reproduction if you wanted them all matching
Hi Melissa.
I’m an antique restorer and I have a James Schoolbred over mantle with door and drawer handles. If you email a photo of the handles you need to jamie@reedrestoration.co.uk
I’ll see if they match the ones I have. I’d sell them as the piece is beyond repair and I bought it for the mahogany.
Best,
Jamie
Thank you!
I have five Jas Schoolbred ? dinning chairs in oak which I need to sell (downsizing) . They are in fair condition two need the seats recovered. I think they are early Edwardian. What sort of price do chairs like this sell for these days
Hi
Being only a set of five they may not fetch a great deal, maybe £100 – £300 as most people want sets of 6 +
Thanks
James
In the middle of polishing up a copper saucepan and have uncovered a Jas Shoolbred & co London stamp. It also has a B stamped on its bottom. No actual date, but I’m 80 and my parents had a set of 3 for about 25 years. Coming up a real treat.
I have a gorgeous J. Scoolbred curio (with glass on top) cabinet, I live in the USA, would you know any antique dealers that would be interested
Hi
Unfortunately I do not know of anyone in the USA but I would try a good antiques auctioneer
Kind regards
James
I have a Jas Shoolbred chair with the number A7123 stamped into the left back leg. I was wondering how old approximately this might be. Thank you. C Macey
Hi
Unfortunately, you can not date Shoolbred furniture by the reg number exactly, but they are usually late 19th century with the reg numbers on.
Thanks
James
How much do you think a set of six mahogany Schoolbred chairs could fetch? they are upholstered in green velour – all labelled on the underside with Tottenham Court Road – did the larger premises acquired stay in Tottenham Court Road? The labels say JAS Schoolbred – would this make them more likely to be Edwardian? Many thanks.
Hi
It would be too difficult to offer a value without seeing them in the flesh, as it depends on the quality and condition. They could be Victorian or Edwardian with this label.
Thanks
James
I have a fusee wall clock with the words J Schoolbred & Co on the face but I note that most of the furniture on this website have the name J Shoolbred. Were both spellings of the name used or is my clock a fake produced by someone who could not spell?
many thanks
Hi
I think possibly a fake or maybe a different clock maker but not someone who I have seen before
Thanks
James
Hi, I’ve got curved stool with wooden lions head as decoration on both sides with reg number B355. Any idea of age or value please? Thank you
Hi
We would need to see it in the flesh to offer a true value but why not try
https://antiquesworld.co.uk/valuing-antiques/
Thanks
James
I have a massive wooden fireplace surround with James Shoolbred & Co on the back.
I kept it when I moved out of my house as I liked it. However now it is just too big to come with me.
Who would you suggest I contact to get an approximate valuation.
Hi
I would try your local auctioneer or salvage expert as we only deal in furniture
Thanks
James
Hi James,
I live in Sydney, Australia and have some Shoolbred furniture I’d like to sell. The range includes a mirrored buffet with three drawers (bow fornt) with two cabinets either side, an 10-12 seat extendable dining table with three inlays and carved ornate legs, eight chairs of the same theme but not matching and two carvers.
The entire suite has been thoroughly refurbished and repaired by one of Sydney’s leading antique restorers, Ben Stoner. I have photos of the before, during and after refurbishment.
Said to have been originally imported to Australia by an accademic, the suite was likely purchased from an educational institution.
Could you give an estimate as to the value of the suite or the pieces? The refurbishment cost three times the original purchase price!
Many thanks, Kate
Hi
unfortunately we do not offer a valuation service, but we do have an interesting article to help people who are looking for valuations of antiques
Please see
https://antiquesworld.co.uk/valuing-antiques/
for hints and tips
Thanks
James
Hi I was recently given a writing/drawing table it has jas shoolbred & co on the inside of the drawer it has cast iron wheels on the bottom it is needing a bit of work done to it. I was wondering if you know of a rough value and whether I would be better off restoring it. Thanks
Hi
If you would like to email me pictures and your postcode and I can see if they are of interest to us to buy
Thanks
James
s:
February 2, 2015 at 8:44 pm
Hello, I have a Jas Schoolbred table it’s got 5052 on it cand anyone tell me how much it is please
Sorry we would need to see it to offer any kind of valuation
Thanks
James
I have a fusee wall clock with the words J Schoolbred & Co on the face but I note that most of the furniture on this website have the name J Shoolbred. Were both spellings of the name used or is my clock a fake produced by someone who could not spell?
many thanks
Hi
I think possibly a fake or maybe a different clock maker but not someone who I have seen before
Thanks
James
Hi I was recently given a writing/drawing table it has jas shoolbred & co on the inside of the drawer it has cast iron wheels on the bottom it is needing a bit of work done to it. I was wondering if you know of a rough value and whether I would be better off restoring it. Thanks
Hi
If you would like to email me pictures and your postcode and I can see if they are of interest to us to buy
Thanks
James
Hi James,
I live in Sydney, Australia and have some Shoolbred furniture I’d like to sell. The range includes a mirrored buffet with three drawers (bow fornt) with two cabinets either side, an 10-12 seat extendable dining table with three inlays and carved ornate legs, eight chairs of the same theme but not matching and two carvers.
The entire suite has been thoroughly refurbished and repaired by one of Sydney’s leading antique restorers, Ben Stoner. I have photos of the before, during and after refurbishment.
Said to have been originally imported to Australia by an accademic, the suite was likely purchased from an educational institution.
Could you give an estimate as to the value of the suite or the pieces? The refurbishment cost three times the original purchase price!
Many thanks, Kate
Hi
unfortunately we do not offer a valuation service, but we do have an interesting article to help people who are looking for valuations of antiques
Please see
https://antiquesworld.co.uk/valuing-antiques/
for hints and tips
Thanks
James
s:
February 2, 2015 at 8:44 pm
Hello, I have a Jas Schoolbred table it’s got 5052 on it cand anyone tell me how much it is please
Sorry we would need to see it to offer any kind of valuation
Thanks
James
In the middle of polishing up a copper saucepan and have uncovered a Jas Shoolbred & co London stamp. It also has a B stamped on its bottom. No actual date, but I’m 80 and my parents had a set of 3 for about 25 years. Coming up a real treat.
We have a lovely little davenport which we acquired at an auction, it has jas shoolbred on the inside of a draw and vr on one of the hinges, can you tell us anything about this piece of furniture, we are very excited about finding the name and secret draw. regards
Hi
It is something we would need to look at in the flesh to offer any information, but with the label, I am sure it is a very fine quality piece
Kind regards
James
Hello, I have a Jas Schoolbred dressing table I would like to sell. It is in need of a bit of tlc. I really don’t know the best way to go about selling it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mrs C Moss
Hi
I would try your local auctioneer as they can usually offer a free valuation
Kind regards
James
Thank you!
I have a Jas Shoolbred chair with the number A7123 stamped into the left back leg. I was wondering how old approximately this might be. Thank you. C Macey
I recently purchased a very large (91″ x 91″) James Shoolbred wardrobe. One drawer is missing a pull. Does anyone have a suggestion for finding a replacement? Thanks.
Hi
I usually find a good place to look is ebay as i have had success finding matching old handles on there but other than that you would have to replace them all with reproduction if you wanted them all matching
I have a gorgeous J. Scoolbred curio (with glass on top) cabinet, I live in the USA, would you know any antique dealers that would be interested
I have a massive wooden fireplace surround with James Shoolbred & Co on the back.
I kept it when I moved out of my house as I liked it. However now it is just too big to come with me.
Who would you suggest I contact to get an approximate valuation.
Hi
I would try your local auctioneer or salvage expert as we only deal in furniture
Thanks
James
Hi, I’ve got curved stool with wooden lions head as decoration on both sides with reg number B355. Any idea of age or value please? Thank you
Hi
We would need to see it in the flesh to offer a true value but why not try
https://antiquesworld.co.uk/valuing-antiques/
Thanks
James
How much do you think a set of six mahogany Schoolbred chairs could fetch? they are upholstered in green velour – all labelled on the underside with Tottenham Court Road – did the larger premises acquired stay in Tottenham Court Road? The labels say JAS Schoolbred – would this make them more likely to be Edwardian? Many thanks.
Hi
It would be too difficult to offer a value without seeing them in the flesh, as it depends on the quality and condition. They could be Victorian or Edwardian with this label.
Thanks
James
I have five Jas Schoolbred ? dinning chairs in oak which I need to sell (downsizing) . They are in fair condition two need the seats recovered. I think they are early Edwardian. What sort of price do chairs like this sell for these days
Hi, I have a tapestry seat chair with a plaque underneath that says JAS Shoolbred & Co. (I live in Australia.) Someone else viewed the plaque and said that he thought it was a modern reproduction, not an antique, because the plaque looked too nice and new. Do you know how I can discern whether it’s a genuine antique or reproduction? The website link above is to the eBay listing which shows pictures of the chair including the plaque underneath. thanks! – Lisa
I think this looks to be a Genuine JAS Shoolbred chair but probably from the 1920s and a copy of an earlier design.
Hi, I have a 3 drawers chest of drawers with ‘Queen Anne’ style legs and it has a circular JAS Shoolbred plaque on it inside the drawer. Would this be Victorian or Edwardian ? And where is the best antiques place to sell. I live in Surrey
Hi
With queen Anne legs, this would most likely be Edwardian. You would be welcome to email us some images and I can see if this would be of interest to us. We usually ask if you can email pictures, your postcode and how much you are looking for to info@antiquesworld.co.uk
Many thanks
James
Hello, I have a mahogany sideboard with mirrored top by Shoolbred. One of the two cupboards on the base comes with a removable lead lined compartment. I’m curious as to the original purpose of it – do you please know? Kind regards
Hi
These compartments were for storing wine to keep it cool. There were usually called a cellarette drawer.
I hope this helps
James
Hello sirs,
I have had a family small stool with circles ends and an inset brass gallery above open square back. There are patent registration stamps on the rear of the seat branded in. There are brass circular ormolu caps at right and left side. I have seen them on Ebay and websites priced from 3000 to 4950. I saw one sell at a Christies auction for 5750 years ago. Its mahogany. Im sure you know the piece I describe because it’s apparent that this little stool is desirable.
Im not interesting in selling but Im just fascinated at why a small low back hall seat which looks to me at most worth 300.00 and that seems stretching it really though it is cute. I read an article that this type of furniture piece was made for an entrance hall and intentionally made not to be comfortable. There is a low back on it so it offers no back support either. Made for to sit and visit but not be too comfortable.
Anyway my question are like the 1880s bookcases and writing worth like 20000-30000 dollars so a little bench like this is worth 2000 or are these particular pieces just highly sought after for some ungodly reason.
Thanks for any assistance in this. Im an appraiser from America and this piece has always baffled me value wise though I love it and it has been in ,y mothers family since it was purchased pre 1900 and I remember my dad sitting on it while he played Atari late at night while he couldn’t sleep. Now I play on internet late at night cuz I can’t sleep…lol
Harvey Webber Hampton, NH USA
Hi
Do you know the name of the style of seat? Is it a window seat?
Many thanks
James
I have acquired a small chair JAS SHOOLBRED & CO LTD. Tottenham Ct Rd London
The seat is Ratten (I think). It’s about 3 ft high. I want to restore it. Would the seat originally have been rattan.
Thank you kindly
Jan
Hi Jan
Yes the seat may have been originally Rattan as this was popular in the Late Victorian and Edwardian eras.
I hope this helps
James
I have a James Shoolbred hall stand with a mirror and a pull out drawer that’s in great shape. Looking to sell but I have no idea what it’s worth.
Hi
If you are looking to sell your antique hall stand, please see our guide here
Many thanks
James
I have a dining table and chairs made by Jas Shoolbred of Tottenham court road,needs tlc for the fabric and possibly insect damage, not sure if the table, damaged is matching. Need to down size but don’t want to break up the set. Value?.
Many thanks.
Kenneth
Hi
Unfortunately we do not offer a valuation service but you can get advice from our guide here
Many thanks
James
I have a James Shoolbred side board/dresser. Its been in my family for many years. Would love to know more information about this piece of furniture if you could help.
Kind regards. Simon.