John Howard, Necklace Maker

John Howard, necklace maker, was located at the sign of the "Hand and Beads" at 40 Fish Hill Street, London between 1763 and 1781, though he was in business both before and after these dates. Prior to this date he was working near London Bridge.

Detail from an Anonymous Print of Fish Street Hill, circa 1770, showing John Howard's Shop and Sign

© The Trustees of the British Museum

John Howard took over from James Howard, who had been working since at least 1735. In the advertisement below, Howard advertised that he "Makes & Sells Necklaces, Earrings, Stomachers, Sleeve Knotts [sic], Caps and Agretts, of every Quality and Degree; whether of English or French Wax, Garnet-Jett, Paste-Stones, or other Compositions, for Dress or Undress; in the most Exqisite and Modern Taste. On the Best Terms with the Quickest Dispatch - Wholesale and Retail. N.B. Beads in General, for Exportation. And all kinds of Necklaces &c. for the Country."

Trade Card for John Howard

© The Trustees of the British Museum

in March 1772, John Howard was also the supplier of beads for the second Pacific Ocean voyage of Captain James Cook.

Wallace Davidson and Johnson also did business with John Howard in 1772 and again in 1774.

Bill Head for John Howard

© The Trustees of the British Museum

By reading Howard's advertisement, we become aware that several of the terms used are either misspelled or can be further clarified. Here, egrets are aigrets, breast flowers are stomachers, and black refers to jet.

(from Maryland State Archives, Chancery Court (Chancery Papers, Exhibits) Wallace, Davidson Johnson, Order Books, 1771/4/25-1775/11/16. MSA S 528-27/28) 

For Wallace Davidson and Johnson
March 20, 1772

4 doz neat genteel egretts mock & real
italian head flowers some of them white for occasions
2 doz very handsome breast flowers some white
6 doz small neat single flowers to intersperse amongst the hair
1/2 doz genteel silver head flowers
1 doz sultannoes sorted
1/2 doz black head flowers
20 doz single strands best small white wax
french beads sorted accurately
2 doz larger do
2 doz larger do
2 doz larger do
all of the above must be of the best white sort
those you sent before were very paultry
1 doz bunches best clear pearl necklaces not strung in necklaces sorted
2 doz neat fashionable black necklaces
1 doz neat black earrings sorted
1/2 doz very neat pearl do
1/2 doz do best wax do
6 doz necklace spreaders some very broad

For Wallace, Davidson and Johnson

March 19, 1774

3 doz rows large clear white wax necklaces

2 doz rows middling do

4 doz rows very small neat do

1 doz white wax earrings

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