Courtauld family, silk throwsters

Sectors:

  • Textile production Silk textiles production inc throwing & weaving

Notes:

A Hugenot family who arrived in London in the late 17th century. Augustus Courtauld, 1685-1751, emerged as a leading London silversmith from c1708 and this business was continued by his son, Samuel, 1720-65, and his grandson until 1780. Another son, George, 1761-1823, became a silk throwster, starting his apprenticeship in Spitalfields but spent much of his life in the United States; his London business was generally unsuccessful. It was revived by his son, Samuel, 1793-1881, who set up his own business, at Bocking and, later, Halstead and Braintree, all in Essex, in 1816 which thrived as Samuel Courtauld & Co. It specialised in production of black silk mourning crape for which there was a booming market. Later the business emerged as Courtaulds Ltd.

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