Built on a solid foundation of passion and tradition, Robert Welch is a British brand with an international reputation for well-designed, functional, and durable cutlery and tableware that can be used every day and enjoyed for many years.
Our Origins
Robert Radford Welch studied silversmithing at the Royal College of Art. Upon graduation in 1955, he left London for Gloucestershire countryside where he rented a small room in a disused 18th century Silk Mill in Chipping Campden.
He started out with just his drawing board, a sheet of paper and a pencil, and even slept on a camp bed in the same room as he worked.
"Towards the end of September 1955 came the moment of truth, with his workshop operational he vividly remembers pinning the first sheet of paper to his drawing board, sharpening his pencil and thinking: "What now?"
Taken from Biography of Robert Welch by W.A. Whatley, c. 1973e
How far we've come
Whilst still based in this same building, we have come a long way from the drawing office where Robert’s first thoughts were sketched out. This quiet start in the English Cotswold Hills would ultimately give his name a global reach.
He remained true to a design ethos that prioritised economy of form and priority of function over following fashionable fads & trends, and the outcome was a portfolio of timeless designs, an archive which today’s company is proud to build upon.
With our roots firmly planted, today we are able to draw on this legacy of iconic designs and enduring values, as we reach further out into the world.
We now supply over 100 countries yet proudly retain our Cotswold identity. Our designs can be found in homes, cathedrals, universities, embassies, hotels, restaurants, cruise liners, airlines and museums all over the world.
Our values
These shared values run through our design philosophy, products, service, brand, and story. They make up our DNA and are integral to everything we do.
Awards
Good Design remains the oldest and most recognized program for design excellence worldwide.
Established on the initiative of the German Bundestag as a foundation in 1953, the German Design Award supports the industry at generating an added brand value through design.
Established in 1954, the red dot awards are one of the most prestigious design competitions in the world and are an acknowledgment of high quality design.
Established in 2000, the Excellence in Housewares Awards have been embraced by the industry and recognised as ‘The Oscars' for the housewares trade.
