Vander & Hedges, London silversmiths and retailers.
Background. It’s thought that this company was established in 1812 by the descendants of Etienne de Tessier, a Huguenot refugee who arrived in England in 1712. It was listed in an 1841 directory as Griffin & Tessier, goldsmiths and silversmiths, at 32 South Audley Street. Partners, Louis (Lewis) and Alexander Tessier (c.1795-after 1861), advertised in 1851 as Louis Tessier & Sons, active as artists in hair mourning jewellery at 32 Conduit Street and 32 South Audley Street. After the retirement of L.A. Tessier (1857) the business was managed by his sons Henry Thomas Louis Tessier (1816-1891) and Edward Tessier, a partnership which was dissolved in 1869. H.T.L. Tessier continued the business at 32 South Audley Street while Edward Tessier maintained the business at 26 New Bond Street.
Vander & Hedges. When Edward Tessier died in 1875 the business was sold to John Gotlieu Vander and John Hedges who continued the activity as E. Tessier and/or Vander & Hedges. After the dissolution of the partnership with Hedges (1900) Vander continued the business until his death (1910). Edward Tessier/Vander & Hedges was continued by Arthur Martin Parsons (c.1859-1943) and Frank Herbert Parsons (died 1934) and in 1920 the firm became a limited liability company as Tessiers Ltd. The first directors were A.M. Parsons, F.H. Parsons and S.F. Parsons. Herbert Martin Parsons (1892-1981), son of A.M. Parsons, succeeded his father as head of the firm.
The firm is now active in a newly established store at 10 Burlington Arcade Piccadilly as dealers in antique and modern jewellery and silver.