The early years
Felix Rosenstiel was a
well-known figure in the German Art World during the 19th century.
He often travelled to London on behalf of a picture framing company
and developed a sound knowledge of the London Framing and Art
world. In 1880 he moved to London with his wife Josephine and
established an Art and Framing business in the City.
The struggle to create his own business took a toll on Felix's
health and few years later, in 1895, he suffered a fatal heart
attack. Then, Josephine decided to carry on the young business
after his demise.
By this time, the Rosenstiel's reputation had grown and business
flourished. Josephine honoured her promise to continue Felix's
work, and when her eldest son Percy reached 15, she brought him
into the company. The success of this experience, and the great
business sense of her son, encouraged her to do the same a few
years later with Edgar, her younger son. The trading name was
altered to Felix Rosenstiel's Widow and Son.
The War Years
As the First World War ended, the austere years and the
depression that followed where treated by Rosenstiel's as a
challenge and an opportunity for diversification. So, the Roe
brothers (the family name was changed from the Germanic Rosenstiel
to the English Roe during the First World War) spent the next
decade exploring fields far away from the roots of the company,
such as painted mirrors, coasters, calendars and table mats…
Their determination was rewarded, but sadly Edgar died in 1942
and Percy foundhimself running the business alone. By 1945,
much Rosenstiel's property had been destroyed by the war and
materials were almost impossible to obtain.
Percy threw himself into a wholehearted effort to restore the
prosperity of the pre-war years, aided by his two eldest sons,
Jervis and Peter who had returned after their war service.
By the early fifties, Percy had ensured Rosenstiel's destiny and
he died in 1953.
The internationalisation
Peter and Jervis continued as partners until 1957, when
Rosenstiel's became a limited company. The 1960s marked the
beginning of a long period of growing public interest in
reproduction prints, and Rosenstiel's gave people the opportunity
to own quality reproductions of paintings by old masters and
introduced many talented young artists.
1965 saw the next generation
join the business when the company's current Managing Director,
David Roe, Jervis's son and great-grandson of Felix, decided to
join the company. David's part was to establish firmer links with
existing export customers and discover new fields abroad. His drive
has taken Rosenstiel's to over 100 countries and culminated in the
grant of the prestigious Queen's Award For Export Achievement in
1993. David's son, Nicolas, works in the business representing
the fifth generation.
Over the years, Rosenstiel's has taken over a number of
publishing companies such as the world-renowned company of Stehli
Freres of Switzerland. Stehli was founded in Geneva in 1902 and
enjoyed a reputation for quality and service throughout the world.
The owners felt that Rosenstiel's had a sufficiently similar ethos
to ensure the continuation of the same high levels of quality.
Along with many other
prestigious awards , In 2007 Rosenstiel's was honoured to be
granted a second Queen's
Award for Enterprise. This highly unusual second award
was presented by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace in July
2007.
130 years and many more to come…
In October 2010, Rosenstiel's was proud to celebrate the 130
years of the creation of the company.
Four young people represent the sixth generation and give hope
for the continuance of the company for generations to come...