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About Jean Tijou
The Founder’s Journey: Jean Tijou
Our story begins with a master craftsman who refused to let adversity extinguish his art. Born around 1650 in the artistic hub of St Germain-en-Laye, Paris, Jean Tijou was a visionary whose medium was iron and whose canvas was the skyline of Europe. However, the path to establishing our legacy was not a straight line; it was forged in the fires of the Huguenot exodus. Following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Tijou was forced to flee his homeland, carrying his unique mastery of repoussé—the art of hammering iron into three-dimensional sculptural forms—first to the Netherlands.
Establishing the Tradition (1687)
While history often associates Tijou’s rise with the royal court of 1689, the true genesis of our English enterprise dates to 1687. It was in this year, amidst the reconstruction of Chatsworth House, that Tijou’s hammers first rang out on English soil, creating the exquisite stair balustrades for the Duke of Devonshire. This early commission marked the foundation of a business built on a simple premise: bringing the fluid, ornamental sophistication of the Continental Baroque to a market that had only ever known utility.
The Golden Age of Patronage
The reputation of our founder grew rapidly with the accession of William III and Mary II. From his bustling workshop on Portugal Row in Piccadilly—a site that became the epicenter of London’s decorative arts—Tijou oversaw the creation of the era’s most iconic works. His masterpiece, the twelve monumental screens for the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace, remains a testament to the scale of his operation and the unparalleled quality he demanded from his team. These works were not merely fences; they were intricate tapestries of iron that defined the aesthetic of the British monarchy
A Legacy in Print
Tijou was not content with merely serving patrons; he sought to elevate the entire industry. In 1693, he published A New Book of Drawings, the first pattern book for ironwork ever released in England. This publication was more than a catalogue; it was a manifesto for “working Iron in Perfection and with Art,” setting a standard that we continue to uphold today. The spirit of innovation he brought to Piccadilly, and the commitment to artistic excellence he codified in his writings, remain the heartbeat of our work to this day.
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Where History Becomes a Living Presence
We stand at the intersection of heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary culture.
Inspired by the enduring legacy of Jean Tijou, the 17th-century master metalworker whose ironwork reshaped British architecture, our work continues a tradition where design is never merely decorative—it is expressive, narrative, and powerful.
Tijou’s gates, screens, and staircases were never just boundaries. They were thresholds—between public and private, power and vulnerability, reality and imagination. Centuries later, those same works still command attention, appearing in some of the most influential films and series in global cinema. From royal dramas and fantasy worlds to modern thrillers, his ironwork continues to frame stories that move millions.
We carry that philosophy forward.
A Legacy That Still Speaks
Across palaces, cathedrals, and great houses—Hampton Court Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Chatsworth House, Burghley House, and beyond—Tijou’s ironwork has become part of our shared visual language. Directors, designers, and storytellers return to these spaces not for nostalgia, but because nothing else delivers the same emotional weight.
Every scroll, every gilded crest, every spiral staircase tells a story of:
- Authority and intimacy
- Beauty and restraint
- Grandeur and tension
This is design that performs. Design that holds the camera. Design that endures.