Howell and James of Lower Regent Street was established in the 1820's and by the 1870's had built up a large art manufacture and retail concern. In 1875 they had grown to a size where there annual show of Painting on Pottery and Porcelain was seen as a rival to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Working with the major pottery factories including Minton, Doulton and Brannum they exhibited at the prestigious 1878 Paris Exhibition.