William Tonks & Sons Umbrella Stand

K0496 Stylish Victorian brass, copper plated umbrella stand by William Tonks and Sons, all in excelled original condition retaining its patina and removable cast iron drip tray. Stamped W. T & S. William Tonks a Manufacturer of architectural hardware, art metalware, campaign metalware, ecclesiastical metalwork and an early fabricator of decorative patterned tubes. The Tonks family surname is the lists of Birmingham brass founders before the 1800s. William Tonks founded this firm in 1789 (or 1794?). They won gold medals at the 1851 and 1862 Exhibitions in London and in 1855 at Paris The larger factory in Moseley Street was opened in the early 1860s and most items now found will date from after this time.