Holland and Sons Antique Furniture (1803 – 1942) were extremely good cabinet makers and they specialised in fine quality furniture. Holland and Sons were founded in 1803 by William Holland and by the middle of 19th century, they were one of the main competitors to the furniture makers Gillow.
Originally, They were cabinet makers and upholsterers called ‘Taprelland Holland’. In 1843 they changed their name to ‘Holland and Sons’ with William Holland in control, a relative of the well known Regency architect Henry Holland.
Holland and Sons soon started to expand quickly and by 1851, they employed over 350 cabinet makers. By 1852 they took on the prestigious firm of Thomas Dowbiggin of 23 Mount Street, London, who had previously made the throne for Victoria’s Coronation. Holland and Sons worked successfully not only as furniture makers but also as undertakers and became responsible for the Duke of Wellington’s funeral.
William Holland had the firm expanding at a rapid rate and became so well known, they became cabinetmakers and upholsters to the Queen. Their first commission was for Osborne House in 1845, supplying furniture in the Queen’s favourite design, ‘Louis XVI style’ from France. They continued to supply furniture for Osborne House and gained further commissions for Windsor Castle, Balmoral and Marlborough House. Holland and sons also worked for many leading institutions such as the reform Club (we have also supplied the reform club with our antique furniture in the past), the British Museum and the new Houses of Parliament. They were part of many of the important international exhibitions including London in 1862, Vienna in 1873, Paris in 1867 and 1872. They gained worldwide fame for their magnificent designs and quality cabinetmaking, throughout the Victorian era. Holland and sons stayed as a family run business, but sadly closed in 1942.
Here are a few examples of their high quality furniture.
This Spectacular 19th Century Victorian Holland & Sons Large Oak Antique Cabinet / Chest dates from ca. 1880 with Arts and Crafts influences and is of superb quality.
This Magnificent Quality Victorian Antique Sideboard dates from around 1870 and has a moulded shelf with brass gallery above the original bevelled mirror with moulded side supports.
This Writing table was made in the Victorian era in Pitch Pine.
This 19th century Small Holland & Sons Walnut Antique Nursing Slipper Chair dates from ca. 1860 and has turned uprights, splayed back legs and beautifully turned reeded front legs with brass castors.
This is a Rare Holland & Sons Antique Ladies Chair stamped J.Osborne.
This unusual Antique Mahogany Open Bookcase on Cupboard is stamped on the drawers.
This 19th Century Holland Writing Side Table has a figured top with moulded edge and rounded corners.
This Country House 19th Century Victorian Holland and Sons Antique Oak Sideboard is in the Arts and crafts design with decorative carvings and original brass handles. The cupboard doors have decorative inlaid features and brass floral motifs.
16 Comments. Leave new
Hello, hoping you can help,
I have a lovely quaint little chair,it is stamped just HS or SH not sure which way round…wondering if it might be one of yours..it is styled similarly..
thank you ever so….
Hi
Sorry it is probably not by Holland and sons as it would be stamped with the entire name, not just the initials
Thanks
James
I have an armchair stamped Holland & Sons. It is a lovely chair, but it appears to be vinyl rather than leather. It’s very well done if it is re-upholstered. Is this likely to be the case?
Hi
If it is Vinyl rather than leather then yes, this will have been re-upholstered at some stage.
Thanks
James
I picked up a pair of solid wood chairs at an estate sale. Stamped Holland and sons. Just trying to find anything out about them I can! Thanks
Is Holland & Sons the same as Holland House?
Hi
Holland and sons are cabinet makers who made antique furniture, so different to Holland house.
Hi,
Does every chair from a set of 4dinning chairs have to be stamped with Holland and sons?
Hi
No not all of them are stamped, quite often they would only stamp one chair of a set
I hope this helps
Hello
I hope someone can help?
Our family has inherited a chair that we were told belonged to Princess Beatrice
Our great grandma worked at Osborne house in the 19th century.
This chair is stamped with Holland & Son, and over that is stamped AR …. We wondered if it was commissioned by Prince Albert or if it was for one of Queen Victoria’s children, or if it was a makers stamp?
It looks like a small nursing chair. It’s black and buttoned , and has some gold on the front stretcher and on the rim of the back of the chair , some worn off?
We wondered if you might be able to shine any more light on it please?
Many thanks and we look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Wendy Lambert
Hi Wendy
I can not help with the stamp AR, it would most likely be the makers stamp. We have had a piece of furniture by Holland and sons and it was stamped ‘Osborne house’, so there is a high chance your chair has also come from here if your grandma worked there. What a lovely piece of history you have
I hope this helps
James
Hi, I have 2 unusual corner chairs stamped C CULYER who my research says was a cabinet maker for Holland and sons. Can you confirm if this is the case and are they therefore Holland and sons chairs or a later chair by C Culyer himself.
Hi
I think C Culyer only worked fro Holland & Sons and as far as i am aware he did not branch out on his own. So these are most likely Holland and sons chairs.
I hope this helps
James
Where would be the best place to sell holland and sons chairs. Mine are really quite unusual which may mean they are worth less than traditional chairs. Any advice would be useful. Thanks
Hi
Are you in the UK? if so you would be welcome to email pictures to us and I can see if they are of interest
Many thanks
James
I ‘rescued’ a Holland and Sons armchair frame which I have re-upholstered – the frame is obviously hard wood but am not sure what. The chair had a sprung back and seat . Can you advise what it might have been?