Charles Hancock
Founded (1849)
Charles Frederick Hancock was born in1807 in London, England. Before opening his own store he worked as a partner in the firm of Hunt and Roskell, successor to the celebrated Regency firm of Storr and Mortimer.
In 1849, Hancock left Hunt and Roskell to establish his own firm. Hancock displayed his designs at the Great Exhibition focusing mainly on the elaborate silver groups sculpted by Rafaelle Monti, Henri Hugh and Baron Marachetti. These amazing works of art featured “The Goodwood Cup,” a group in silver mounted on an ebony pedestal based on the Robin Hood legend; the entry of Queen Elizabeth on Horseback into Kenilworth; and another representing “Guy of Warwick contending with a dragon.
At the Exhibition in Paris in 1855, Hancock presented more sculptures modeled by Eugene Lami, a French artist favorite of the French Imperial couple. In 1856, C.F. Hancock was commissioned to one of the most famous jewelry commissions of the nineteenth century. C.F. Hancock was provided with gems from the Duke of Devonshire’s collection to make a set of jewelry which was worn by the Countess Marie Granville for the coronation of the Emperor of Russia, in Moscow.
In 1857, the parure was known as the “Devonshire Gems,” and featured a diadem, coronet, stomacher, jeweled bandeau, necklace, comb and a bracelet. During the months of February and March of 1857, the Duke of Devonshire exhibited the parures at the Mechanic Institution in Manchester for the public to see. It was exhibited three times more at the Archeological Institute of London in 1861, 1862 and in 1871, at the International Exhibitions.
Hancock had gotten inspiration from the “Holbeinesque” style. C.F. Hancock lightened the richly colored gems and their toning settings with the large diamonds that were placed at intervals on all seven pieces.
C.F. Hancock’s clientele included royal members from all over Europe, including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the Princess of Wales, as well as their Imperial Majesties of Russia. In 1862, Hancock was still successfully exhibiting his elaborate sculptural silver work: a series of vases dedicated to Shakespeare, Milton and Byron, shown in London. In 1867, the “Tennyson” base modeled by Raffaele Monti and Owen Jones was bought by Napoleon III.
By 1866, C.F. Hancock’s son Mortimer joined the business and three years later in 1869, after his second son joined the business Hancock retired. Not many surviving pieces remain of Hancock’s jewelry since 1856, but after his retirement in 1869, his sons focused on the production of jewelry and in 1871 exhibited their work at the Exhibition and mounted an impressive display of jewelry with brilliants, rubies, and white and black pearls, together with historical revival pieces in the manner of Castellani.
From his early beginnings C.F. Hancock’s enjoyed Royal patronage and Royal commissions. Hancocks was also chosen by Lord Panmure to produce the Victoria Cross for the newly instituted order for gallantry, initially ordained by Queen Victoria to reward bravery in the Crimean War.The Victoria Cross was awarded to selected recipients in June 1857, and the cross is still supplied by Hancock’s to this day.
