Little over 15 years ago, Jonathan Charles Furniture was simply an independent designer furniture making business, specialising in fine artisan craftsmanship. Today, antique reproduction furniture by this specialist brand is considered some of the finest in the world.
This brand's designer furniture is a large part of the Pavilion Broadway story, representing our humble beginnings as a single boutique furniture shop in Broadway.
Jonathan Charles Furniture
The Dream of a 12 Year Old Boy
Jonathan Charles is the vision of its CEO and Founder, Jonathan Sowter. Aged just 12, Sowter discovered his passion for carpentry and he has pursued his calling to the craft ever since. As a fully trained cabinet maker and qualified furniture designer, he established a furniture factory in Rajasthan, India for the then new designer furniture brand, Theodore Alexander. Here, Sowter obtained great experience in the fine furniture industry and duly founded his own furniture making business in 2004.
Jonathan Charles Fine Furniture is Born
Located in Vietnam, Jonathan Charles Furniture began with a small team of just 10 craftspeople. Today, the company consists of more than 1,000 skilled artisans. Each individual is specially trained in the art of antique reproduction using the very finest craftsmanship, their standards reputable across the world.
Handmade Designer Furniture
In-house Manufacturing & Traditional Methods
Jonathan Charles Furniture takes pride in their age-old manufacturing techniques. Each and every furniture piece is made by hand, demonstrating a passion for the craft that is unrivalled amongst many. Every figure is hand-carved. Each marquetry piece is hand-laid. And all brass hardware is hand-cast at their in-house foundry. The brand offer high-quality construction and authentic characteristics like no other. Their skill in working wood, fine leather and the pre-roman technique of eglomise are just a few of many specialist methods that symbolise the business.
Inspired by Travels
Many Jonathan Charles Furniture pieces are inspired by Sowter’s travels across the globe. In some instances, the designs are reproduced as accurately as possible down to the finest of details. Other times, the designers begin the process entirely from scratch. It could be an intricate detail Sowter has picked up from a recent venture, a rare object or simply a classic wallpaper motif. The design process is one of great skill and expertise, breathing soul and lasting quality into each and every product.
Synonymous with the Finer Things in Life
Antique Reproductions & Transitional Designs
Resembling English classics, Jonathan Charles Furniture specialise in high-end replicas of English, French and European furniture from the 17th – 19th centuries. Not limited to antique reproduction, Jonathan Sowter adores exploring the boundaries of the business. His move towards more present concepts sees the birth of the transitional JC Modern collections, whilst continuing to make additions into the brand’s extensive pool of high-quality antique replicas.