{"product_id":"fortnum-mason-london-1957","title":"Fortnum \u0026 Mason, London 1957","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis delightful image of a hot air balloon soaring over a mews was on the front cover of a 1952 menu for the famous Fortnum \u0026amp; Mason department store in Piccadilly, London.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCo-founder William Fortnum started out as a footman in the household of Queen Anne (1665-1714) and the Royal family’s insistence on having new candles every night resulted in large amounts of half-used wax being left over, which the intrepid Fortnum resold.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFortnum also had an interest in groceries and he and his landlord and business associate Hugh Mason founded the first Fortnum \u0026amp; Mason store in 1707. By the late 18\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century, the store was renowned for its exotic imported foods, brought in by the East India Company.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMore than 300 years after it was founded, this iconic British brand remains internationally renowned today for its tea blends and luxury foodstuffs and its gourmet food baskets are shipped worldwide.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Its main store in Piccadilly is a must-visit for any tourist to England’s capital, especially at Christmas when the decorations are breathtaking, and there are additional stores and restaurants at St Pancras International rail station, Heathrow Airport’s T5 and in Hong Kong.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFortnum’s, as it is colloquially known, holds two Royal Warrants granted by the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles as grocer and teas and provisions merchant.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor people unfamiliar with the term mews: in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, grand mansions were built for aristocratic families in areas of London such as Kensington, Belgravia, Mayfair and Hyde Park.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBuildings were erected on these cobbled streets or mews to allow wealthy families to stable their horses and store their carriages. Above the stables would be rooms that would accommodate maids and other servants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese mews houses are now highly desirable properties in London and command multi-million pound prices.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003eEach order includes a print of the interior menu.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAll printed in USA.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vintage Menu Art","offers":[{"title":"8.5x11\" Archival Print (Unframed) $25.00","offer_id":57491762839718,"sku":"bzm1790052302286","price":15.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"11x14 Archival Print (Unframed) $30.00","offer_id":57491762872486,"sku":"qkv1790052302287","price":19.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"13x19 Archival Print (Unframed) $40.00","offer_id":57491762905254,"sku":"gip1790052302288","price":30.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20 Archival Print (Unframed) $55.00","offer_id":57491762938022,"sku":"mdp1790052302289","price":33.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x24 Archival Print (Unframed) $85.00","offer_id":57491762970790,"sku":"yli1790052302290","price":52.7,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36 Archival Print (Unframed) $135.00","offer_id":57491763003558,"sku":"vzk1790052302291","price":103.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/9133\/8662\/files\/fortnum-mason-london-1957_1.webp?v=1790052306","url":"https:\/\/coffeetamper.shop\/products\/fortnum-mason-london-1957","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}