The company was founded in 1969 by David Mellor, Royal Designer for Industry and a leading figure in British design. Born in Sheffield, England in 1930, Mellor trained as a silversmith and developed a lifelong specialisation in metal craftsmanship. He gained international recognition as a designer, manufacturer, and retailer, with work spanning cutlery, kitchenware, lighting, furniture, and public infrastructure. He is particularly renowned for his cutlery designs, which have won numerous international design awards and are held in major museum and institutional collections worldwide.