Hard & Austin (1877-1888)
Hard & Austin
London & Glasgow, Scotland; bevelled-edged looking glass & picture frame makers, looking glass manufacturers (fl.1877-1888)
Listed with the address of Steam Works, 19 Cross Street, Hatton Garden, Hard & Austin advertised their machine-bevelled-edged mirrors for art furniture in The Furniture Gazette, 1 December 1877. They participated in the 1881 Furniture Exhibition in Islington with a display of mirrors, illus. [The Furniture Gazette, 13 August & 5 November 1881] and the 2nd Furniture Trades Exhibition in May 1882, illus. [The Furniture Gazette, 25 March & 13 May 1882].
They moved to 30 Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell and by 1886 the were also recorded in Glasgow. The Furniture Gazette, 1 April 1886, described their Clerkenwell premises as 'stocked with every labour saving appliance including bevelling machines, drilling machines and other tools powered by a steam engine'. Cutting and engraving of glass also took place there. Their showrooms attached to the factory were stocked with all types of mirrors and frames and in styles designed by their artist. Painted mirrors were one of their leading lines and they attached hand painted plaques for sconces to some mirrors.
The firm continued to advertise in The Furniture Gazette until at least 1886 and was listed in The Furniture Gazette: Classified List of the Furniture, Upholstery, and Allied Trades (1886).
They had a good home market and were said to have also expanded into Colonial markets.
Hard & Austin and the Glasgow International Exhibition, 1888 [The Furniture Gazette, 1 July 1888].
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