Royal warrant of appointment explained

Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to tradespeople who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The royal warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the issuer of the royal warrant; thus lending prestige to the supplier. Royal families of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan among others, allow tradesmen to advertise royal patronage.

Suppliers having a royal warrant charge for the goods and services supplied; a royal warrant does not imply that suppliers provide goods or services free of charge. Royal warrants are typically advertised on company hoardings, letter-heads and products by displaying the coat of arms or the heraldic badge of the royal personage issuing the royal warrant. Warrants granted by members of the British royal family usually include the phrase "By Appointment to…" followed by the title and name of the royal customer, and then what goods are provided; no other details of what is supplied may be given.

Purveyors for current households

Australia

Royal warrant holders of the Court of Australia:

Hardy Brothers

Belgium

In Belgium the title of 'Purveyor to the Court' (Gebrevetteerd Hofleverancier van België/Fournisseur breveté de la Cour de Belgique) is granted to businesses who provide services or goods to the royal court. The list of 'purveyors to the Court' is updated every year. The king himself makes the decision who gets a title or not.

Some of the 'Purveyors to the Court' include:^[1]

Denmark

Purveyors to the Royal Danish Court:

See main article: List of Purveyors to the Court of Denmark.

Japan

Purveyors to the Imperial Household Ministry; after World War II, the permission system was abolished, but purveyors still exist today:

Ando Cloisonné Company — cloisonné
Miyamoto Shoko – silverware
Gekkeikan – sake
Kikkoman – soy sauce
Nissin Foods – food
Toraya Confectionery – wagashi
Toyota – motor vehicles
Manyoken – catering
Yamada Heiando – lacquerware
Koransha – ceramic ware
Kuni – perfume
Otsuka Shoe – shoes
Onshino Tabako - tobacco
Onshino Konpeitō - konpeitō sweets

Monaco

High Patronage of the Monaco Royal Family:

Chocolaterie de Monaco – chocolates
British Theatre Season, Monaco – theatre
Lexus – automobiles

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the status hofleverancier is awarded to small and medium-sized businesses that have existed for at least 100 years which have a good reputation regionally.^[2] However, the companies need not actually supply goods to the court. At present there are at least 387 companies that hold this status, which can be renewed every 25 years.^[3] Companies designated as hofleverancier are further permitted to display a plaque on their premises attesting to their status.

In addition, certain companies are granted the use of the designation koninklijke ("royal" in Dutch).^[4] These companies are also allowed to incorporate a crown in their logo. Examples include:

Norway

Purveyors to the Royal Court of the Norway: the status 'purveyor to the court' (hofflevrandør) is no longer awarded.

Karl August Anderson – photographer (Kongl. Hoffotograf)
Farris – mineral water
Foss Bryggeri – Brewery (H.VII Eneberettiget)
Hans H. Holm – Felt hats
King Oscar – Sea food
H. C. Reiersen – Tailor (Kongl. Hoffskredder)
Christian Rohde & Søn – Tailor (Kngl. Norske slotts hoffleverandør)^[5]
M. Selmer – photographer (Kongl. Hoffotograf)
O. Sørensen Vogn- og Karosserifabrikk – Automobil
L. Szaciński – photographer (Kongl. Hoffotograf)

Romania

Purveyors to the Romanian Royal House:

BMW^[6]
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Carol I (1881)
Steinway & Sons – pianos
M. Welte & Söhne – orchestrions, reproducing pianos (1894, 1910)
Murfatlar SA – wines to Michael (2003)
Frottirex – bath towels and bedding to Michael (2005)
Doina Levintza – clothing and accessories to Michael (2005)
Dan Coma – clothing and accessories to Michael (2005)
Halewood International – Rhein extra sparkling wines to Michael (2006)
SC Transavia SA – chicken meat to Michael (2005)
Principal Company SA – Salonta sausage products to Michael (2007)
Biborţeni – mineral water to Michael (2008)
Exotique Romania – Exotic furniture and decorative items (2009)
Carol Parc Hotel – Hotelier and catering services (2011)
Rue du Pain – Boulangerie Artisanale – bakery, pastry and confectionery products (2011)
Bridge Painting Group - Printing Company, Offset lithography, Hot-foil stamping, Embossing, and special finishings (2013)

Historical reigning households

Austria-Hungary

See main article: Imperial and Royal Warrant of Appointment.

Augarten porcelain – porcelain and china
J. A. Baczewski – vodka
Bakalowits – crystal chandeliers
Matthäus Bauer – accordions
Jan Becher – herbal bitter
Lucas Bols – liqueurs
Ignaz Bösendorfer – pianos
Carl Suchy & Söhne - watches
Christofle – silverware
Courvoisier – cognac
Demel – chocolate and confectionery
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Franz Joseph I (1872)
E. Fessler – ovens
Móric Fischer de Farkasházy, owner of Herend Porcelain Manufactory – porcelain
Café Gerbeaud – cakes and pastries
Gräf & Stift – carriages
Hancocks & Co – jewelry
L. & C. Hardtmuth – ovens and pencils
Antoni Hawełka – catering
J. A. Henckels – knives
Hotel Imperial – catering
Liebig's Extract of Meat Company – processed meats
J. & L. Lobmeyr – crystal and glassware
Löblich & Co. – heating
Lohner-Werke – carriages
Girolamo Luxardo – apéritif and digestif
Rémy Martin – champagne
Moët et Chandon – champagne
Moser – glass and crystal
Ferdinand Mülhens, owner of the 4711 (brand) – perfume
G. H. Mumm – champagne
L. Ostermayr - glass and porcelain
A. Obholzer Kürschnerei – furs
Paulaner Brewery – beer
Pauly Beds / J. Pauly & Sohn – beds and mattresses
Peek Freans – cookies
Pilsner Urquell – beer
Rieger Orgelbau – organs
Louis Roederer – champagne
Royal Worcester – porcelain
Eduard Sacher, owner of the Hotel Sacher – cakes and pastries
Robert Schlumberger von Goldeck – sparkling wine
Schweighofer – pianos
Adolf Steiner - pianos
William Steinway – pianos
Baron Raimund von Stillfried – photos
Gebrüder Thonet – furniture
Michael Thonet – furniture
Charles Lewis Tiffany – jewelry and silverware
Törley – sparkling wine
Underberg – digestif bitter
John Thomas Underwood – typewriters
Veuve Clicquot – champagne
Nathaniel Wheeler – sewing machines
Wilhelm J. Sluka – cakes and pastries
Zwack – herbal liquors

Bavaria

Purveyors to the Court of Bavaria:

See Liste bayerischer Hoflieferanten .

FA Ackermanns Kunstverlag – art publishing (1879)
Ed Meier – shoes, clothes, leather goods and accessories
Eilles – coffee and tea (1873)
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Ludwig II (1872)
Fr. Ant. Prantl – printing and leather goods (1797)

Brazil

Purveyors to the Brazilian Imperial Family:

Casa Granado – chemists/pharmacists and toiletries
Henry Poole & Co – tailors to Pedro II (1874)

France

Purveyors to the Court of France:

Moutard – printer and bookseller to Marie Antoinette, to Princess Marie Joséphine of Savoy, and to Princess Maria Theresa of Savoy (1770)
Marc-Etienne Janety – master goldsmith and jeweler to Louis XVI (1777)
Adam Weisweiler – cabinet maker to Louis XVI (1778)
– perfumer to Marie Antoinette (1779)
Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Napoleon I (1811) and to Napoleon III (1867)
Debauve & Gallais – chocolates to Louis XVIII (1819)
Champagne Delbeck – champagne to Louis Philippe I (1838)
Guerlain – eau de Cologne to Napoleon III (1868)

Italy

Purveyors to the Italian Royal Family:

Acqua di Biella – eau de Cologne to Umberto I (1878)
Ballarino Gioielli (Cavour) – jewellery
Baratti & Milano (Turin) – sweets
Bianchi – cars
Caffarel (Turin) – chocolate
Caraceni (Milan) – clothes
Fratelli Carli (Imperia) – olive oil
Farina Gegenüber – eau de Cologne to King Victor Emmanuel II (1876)
Florio (Marsala) – wine
Gancia – wine
Gentilini (Roma) – food (biscuits)
Marinella (Naples) – ties
Martini & Rossi – liquor
Musy, Padre & Figli (Turin) – jewellery
Pagani (Parma) – sweets
Pernigotti – chocolate
Petochi (Rome) – jewellery
Prada (Milan) – leather goods, trunks and clothes
Saiwa – food (biscuits)
Sperlari – food (biscuits)
Steinway & Sons – pianos
Luigi Borrelli (Naples) – clothing

Ottoman Empire

Purveyors to the sultans of the Ottoman Empire:

M. Welte & Söhne, orchestrions (1896)
Abdullah Frères, photographers (1863)

Portugal

Purveyors to the Portuguese Royal Household:

Ballarino Gioielli (Cavour, Italy) – jewellery
Farina Gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Luís I (1866)
Confeitaria Nacional – confectionary to Luís I, Carlos I, Manuel II (1873–1910)

Prussia

Purveyors to the Court of Prussia:

See Liste preußischer Hoflieferanten .

Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1841), Wilhelm I (1871), to Friedrich III (1888) and to Wilhelm II (1888)

Russia

In the Russian Empire since 1856 there was the designation with the highest authorization "Supplier of His Imperial Majesty" with the state coat of arms on the shield. From 1895, at the request of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, a second, additional authorization was granted: "Supplier of Her Imperial Majesty". Both authorizations existed until 1917, until the abdication of Nicholas II.^[7]

Purveyors to the Russian Imperial Family:

Farina gegenüber – eau de Cologne to Nicholas I 1843
Fabergé – jewellery to Nicholas II
Smirnoff – vodka
Cristal – champagne
Steinway & Sons – pianos
Gubanova Toiletries of Morshansk Russia appointed in 1763 with a Royal Warrant by Empress Catherine II to provide special cleaning and skincare products
The Victoria Fine Soap Works, Minsk, Belarus – soap to Nicholas I and the Imperial family
The Perfume Factory Partnership of Pharmacist A. M. Ostroumov - perfume, cologne, anti-dandruff soap and other medicinal cosmetics, 1900 - 1920^[8] ^[9]

Sulu

Royal Warrants by Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram:

Harney & Sons – tea ^[10]

Yugoslavia

Royal Warrant Holders of the Yugoslav Court:

Sljeme (Zagreb) – trunks and leather goods, appointed in 1931

Notes and References

http://www.dghb.be/en/suppliers.php Suppliers
Web site: Predicaat Hofleverancier (overzicht organisaties 2015). Zaken. Ministerie van Algemene. www.koninklijkhuis.nl. 3 December 2014. nl-NL. 2017-02-06.
Web site: Predicaat Hofleverancier (overzicht organisaties 2015). Zaken. Ministerie van Algemene. www.koninklijkhuis.nl. nl-NL. 2017-02-06.
Web site: Predicaat Koninklijk. Zaken. Ministerie van Algemene. www.koninklijkhuis.nl. 3 December 2014. nl-NL. 2017-02-06.
Book: Hoffstad, Einar. Merkantilt biografisk leksikon : hvem er hvem i næringslivet?. 1935.
Web site: Automobile Bavaria Group - Centru de presă. www.automobilebavaria.ro.
https://museumpskov.ru/article/muzejnye_tajny/postavshhik_eya_velichestva?fbclid=IwAR1UKUFKQ93OE_ySKq8H9Ks1fKdlLAULite4z1iD81tNSyRTerNTKDsP7Gg|The Pskov state historical, architectural and art museum
Book: Ostroumov, Alexander . Nashi Artistki (Our Artists). Typography Partnership A. I. Mamontov, Moskow. 1912 . 2.
Web site: English: This is an advertising poster for an anti-dandruff soap produced by A.M. Ostroumov in Moscow – Russian Empire, at the beginning of the XX century. At the top of the image is the coat of arms of the Russian Empire and it says that the company A.M. Ostroumov was purveyor to the court of His Imperial Majesty. This photocopy is after an original photo from the archive of my family Rascanu / Ostroumov.. Dan. Rascanu. March 30, 2022. Wikimedia Commons.
Web site: Tausug Blend, Tin of 20 Sachets . 2024-04-15 . Harney & Sons Fine Teas . en.