Heritage

Original BTC was founded in 1990 by Peter Bowles in Oxfordshire, still our home today. Breaking convention, Peter was the first designer to use bone china in lighting, paving the way for his pioneering investment in British manufacturing.

A unique figure in the industry, Peter has launched new brands, revived heritage companies and factories, and designed products.

One of Peter's first designs is the Hector Table Light. Demonstrating the natural beauty and capabilities of bone china in lighting, the Hector quickly became an iconic and well-loved design all around the world.

Looking to expand into outdoor lighting, Original BTC acquired Davey Lighting in 2010, keeping production in the UK and preventing its sale to a Belgian company that planned to move manufacturing overseas.

With roots dating back to the shipyards of nineteenth century London, Davey Lighting combines industrial design, traditional craftsmanship and the finest raw materials.

Authentic and unique, many of the lights are IP-rated and are still made by hand in England. We continue to add new collections to the Davey Lighting range while carefully updating heritage models where necessary so they can continue to be used in contemporary spaces.

As an independent, privately owned business, Original BTC manages all design, manufacturing, and distribution in-house, maintaining full control over quality and craftsmanship.

A true family business, Peter Bowles’ son, Charlie, became Director in 2012 – having gained hands-on experience over the years, from assembling the brand’s iconic Hector collection as a teenager to designing the company’s website and brochure while studying Product Design at university. His first design, the London, launched in 2009.

In 2013, Peter’s daughter, Gina Amies, became Director of Original BTC's sister company Beadlight, followed by her sister, Hettie Bowles, who joined the business in 2017 as Operations and Logistics Director.

Expanding into the French market, we opened a showroom at 32 Rue Bonaparte, St Germain. This new space proved to be a great success, bringing our British craftsmanship and design to Paris.

Expanding beyond Europe for the first time, we opened a showroom in New York's SoHo at 56 Greene Street. This exciting move introduced British craftsmanship and design to the U.S. market, further growing our global presence.

We proudly celebrated 30 years of craftsmanship with the launch of the Hector 30, a special edition of Peter Bowles’ first design that set the tone and standard for Original BTC.

From the start, attention to detail and thoughtful design have been central to our ethos. The Hector introduced the now-iconic woven cotton braid cable, replacing traditional plastic flex for a more refined finish.

Crafted by hand in our Stoke-on-Trent factory, the Hector 30 continues to embody the timeless British craftsmanship and design that Original BTC stands for.

Our very first location in Germany opened on Gärtnerplatz in Munich, showcasing a stunning showroom designed in collaboration with #AD100 interior designer Sebastian Zenker.

Working closely with our Director, Charlie Bowles, Sebastian crafted a space that beautifully balanced boldness and calm, reflecting the essence of our brand.