James Shoolbred & Co (also knows as Jas Shoolbred) was established in the 1820’s as a draper, trading in Tottenham Court Road, London. The company first began supplying textiles to the furniture trade, but by the 1860’s were designing, manufacturing and selling its own high quality furniture. By the 1880’s it was one of the first large department stores established in London. The furniture was displayed in a series of catalogues, produced every year by the company to showcase their new ranges. Jas Shoolbred was granted a Royal warrant by the mid-1880s and their furniture was some of the best quality available of the late Victorian and early Arts and Crafts period. Some of their furniture is on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. As with many of the great Victorian designers and furniture makers, James Shoolbred & Co didn’t survive the financial crisis of the late 1920’s and ceased trading in 1931.