What David Harber does

David Harber is a privately held British luxury sculptural art company founded in 1993 by David Harber and headquartered in a purpose-built Oxfordshire workshop, with secondary operations in New York and exclusive showroom partnerships in Palm Beach and New York. The company handcrafts contemporary outdoor sculptures, precision sundials (including the signature Armillary Sphere), and architectural water features from marine-grade stainless steel, bronze with verdigris patination, copper, oxidized and Corten steel, Welsh slate, and Carrara marble. Proprietary techniques include cold verdigris patination, a newly developed hot patination process, 24-carat gold leaf gilding applied by a third-generation craftsman, and precision metal fabrication drawn from Formula 1, aviation, and pharmaceutical disciplines.

The business operates through three service tiers — Classic (ready-made catalogue), Customized/Bespoke (design fee of ~$2,500 with project minimums from £50,000, 20-40 week production), and Commercial (large-scale turnkey installations). It sells primarily through direct enterprise sales with dedicated Senior Design Consultants, supported by exclusive gallery partnerships in the US and presence at events such as RHS Chelsea Flower Show (since 1997) and Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Customers span high-net-worth private clients, luxury hospitality brands (Four Seasons, Raffles, Sandy Lane), universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Eton, Princeton, Goodenough College), royal and government sites (Windsor Castle, RAF Brize Norton, King Abdulaziz International Airport), and commercial developments (Doha Festival City). The company holds two Queen's Awards for Enterprise and International Trade (2016 and 2020) and offers a 25-year warranty on works. Revenue, ownership, and financials are not publicly disclosed; the firm is founder-led by David Harber and CEO Sophie Harber and operates without external investment.

Name

David Harber

Legal name

David Harber Ltd

Website

https://davidharber.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

David Harber is a privately held British luxury sculpture house that handcrafts contemporary outdoor sculptures, precision sundials, and water features in bronze, stainless steel, and slate for high-net-worth individuals, luxury hospitality brands, prestigious universities, and royal and government institutions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Aston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom/Bespoke Sculptures: High-value custom sculpture commissions with typical project values starting from £50,000. Process includes discovery consultation, design development with CGI renders, engineering, production (20-40 weeks), and professional installation.
2. Classic Collection Sales: Standard catalogue pieces sold as complete works, including sculptures, sundials, and water features. Prices vary by size, material, and finish.
3. Commercial/Enterprise Commissions: Large-scale commissions for corporate spaces, public installations, hotels, and institutions with comprehensive turnkey services from design through installation.
4. Water Features: Water fountains and walls including stainless steel water walls, bronze fountains, and custom water features with integrated lighting.
5. Sundials and Armillary Spheres: Working timepieces including armillary spheres, globe dials, vertical dials, and obelisks, calibrated to specific latitude/longitude locations.
6. Personalization Services: Custom engraving and inscription services for adding personalized text, family mottos, poetry, or commemorative messages to sculptures and sundials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

David Harber designs, handcrafts and installs bespoke and classic contemporary sculptures, precision sundials and water fountains made from bronze, marine-grade stainless steel, copper, oxidised steel, slate and stone. The company operates a multi-stage commissioning process (discovery, design development, engineering, production over 20-40 weeks and installation) and also offers ready-made Classic pieces, Customized bespoke commissions and turnkey Commercial service for large-scale projects.

Product overview

David Harber is a British luxury sculpture, sundial, and water fountain company with over 30 years of expertise. The company offers a portfolio of handcrafted contemporary sculptures (including Geminus, Hydra, Torus, Dark Planet, FLO, Quill, Rush), precision sundials (Armillary Sphere, Armillary 30, Globe, Vertical Dial, Obelisk), and water features (Ginkgo Water Wall, Stainless Steel Water Wall, Mimeo, Chalice, Petal Water Wall). Products are available through three service tiers: Classic (ready-made pieces), Customized/Bespoke (client commissions with design fees starting at $2,500), and Commercial (large-scale projects). The company also offers personalized inscription services. All pieces are handcrafted in Oxfordshire, UK using materials including bronze, stainless steel, copper, slate, and stone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Torus A large, reflective outdoor sculpture made with polished stainless steel that mirrors its environment. Launched in 2011 at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
• Geminus A garden sphere formed from a delicate latticework of verdigris bronze petals gilded on the inside with gold leaf.
• Hydra A striking outdoor sculpture crafted in verdigris bronze or stainless steel, playing with light and shadow.
• Dark Planet A sculpture crafted from polished black stones or slate shards that can be lit from the inside or made into a water fountain.
• Nexa A bold statement sculpture made of woven bronze metalwork and copper mesh that symbolizes unity and connection.
• Cosmos An astronomy-inspired, multi-layered metal art piece for interior spaces; limited edition of 20 pieces.
• FLO A limited edition of 25 pieces, FLO has a refined copper aesthetic for outdoor spaces. Launched in 2024.
• Quill A tall sculpture crafted from dozens of interconnected petals individually cut from bronze, mirror-polished stainless steel or oxidised steel.
• Rush An outdoor sculpture with an extraordinary fan-like shape that harmonizes architectural form with textured surfaces. Launched in 2024.
• Teardrop Mantle A stainless steel outdoor sculpture with a customizable painted interior, inspired by the shape of a water droplet.
• Armillary Sphere David Harber's contemporary interpretation of the traditional armillary sphere, a statement of classical values.
• Armillary 30 An innovative and interactive anniversary take on the Armillary Sphere marking David Harber's 30 years. Launched in 2024.
• Globe Sundial A working sundial that depicts the world's rotation with artful precision, calibrated to a specific location.
• Vertical Dial A working vertical sundial made from materials including slate, stone and copper, calibrated to latitude and longitude.
• Obelisk Sundial An elegant sundial that brings light while creating shadows, evoking a silver sunbeam.
• Ginkgo Water Wall A luxury outdoor water wall inspired by the ginkgo leaf, designed for an interior courtyard or terrace.
• Stainless Steel Water Wall A simple mirror-polished stainless steel water fountain creating a contemporary outdoor backdrop or focal point.
• Mimeo A modern gravity-defying outdoor fountain influenced by Moorish filigree patterns and Islamic water fountain aesthetics.
• Filigree Water Wall A water wall framed by a verdigris bronze design with water flowing over a mirror-polished stainless steel fretwork surface.
• Petal Water Wall Hundreds of scale-shaped mirror-polished stainless steel petals force water to zigzag downwards creating a shimmering cascading waterfall.
• Fire Chalice A daring centerpiece marrying the classic elements of fire and water in an award-winning sculptural form.
• Classic Service Ready-made timeless pieces from the core collection available in a considered range of materials, sizes and finishes for immediate purchase.
• Customized (Bespoke) Service Individual works of art made for specific clients through discovery, consultation, design development and production over 20-40 weeks; design fee from £2,500.
• Commercial Service Turnkey service for bold, imposing large-scale sculptures for commercial spaces, covering design, build, supply and delivery to the highest engineering standards.
• Personalized Inscriptions Custom engraving service for sundials, armillary spheres and sculptures including family mottos, poetry, names, dates or commemorative messages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lifetime Warranty (25 years) on works with specific warranties for components: Gold leaf 5 years, powder coated finishes 5 years, pumps/filters 2 years, lights 3 years

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Annoushka Ducas (Jewellery Designer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023First design collaboration created Sycamore - a revolving seat with scaled-up version of one of Annoushka's golden charms. Represents company's expansion into collaborative product design beyond core sculpture offerings.
• Regenerative Agroforestry Impact Network (RAIN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership involves investing in growth of Pernambucco trees and regenerating the Amazon rainforest, contributing to creation of bows for stringed instruments. Reflects company's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
• Benjamin Peterson GallerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive partner showroom in Palm Beach, Florida showcasing curated collection of luxury sculptures. Located at 1200 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, FL 33460. Provides US East Coast clients with in-person viewing experience.
• Christopher Peacock ShowroomcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership on rooftop terrace of D&D Building in New York featuring selection of David Harber pieces. Serves luxury market seeking handcrafted British designs.
• Hollander DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partnership for RHS Chelsea Flower Show installations. Ed Hollander and Fernando Wong have collaborated on multiple show house projects including Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach.
• Nic Howard (Garden Designer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning garden designer who created show garden for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 sponsored by Savills. Collaborated on bronze and oxidized steel screens and Eon sculpture.
• Lara et Al (Interior Designer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior designer collaboration for Ginkgo Water Wall custom piece designed for interior courtyard of family home. Ginkgo leaf symbolism of peace and hope.
• Fernando Wong (Landscape Designer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida-based landscape designer who designed trade stand for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. Known for incorporating David Harber sculptures in British garden design.
• Juliette Byrne (Interior Designer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural interior designer who reveals approach to design and explains how sculpture softens transition between indoor and outdoor elements.
• Xa Tollemache (Garden Designer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGarden designer interview subject discussing garden design philosophy and use of sculpture in landscape.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Asprey: British luxury heritage brand producing handcrafted goods (leather, silver, crystal) for ultra-HNW global clients. Adjacent incumbent: similar British heritage brand with similar clientele, distribution through luxury showrooms, and emphasis on craftsmanship and provenance.
• Lorenzo Quinn: International contemporary sculptor known for large-scale sculptural installations in public and private spaces worldwide. Comparable as a high-profile luxury sculptor creating monumental works for collectors, institutions, and luxury developments, though at a different commercial scale.
• Halcyon Days: UK luxury decorative arts brand (enamel boxes, ceramics, gifts) holding Royal Warrants. Comparable as a long-established British luxury handcrafted goods brand targeting HNW collectors and gift market with similar prestige positioning.

Emerging players

• Walla Walla Foundry: US fine art foundry producing bronze castings for sculptors and designers. Different business model (B2B service for artists) but operates in related craft and material categories (patinated bronze, precision metalwork) with comparable craftsmanship standards.

Direct peers

• Westminster Stone: UK manufacturer of luxury stone garden products including paving, walling, and ornamental pieces. Direct comparable: similar UK heritage garden stone brand serving landscape designers and luxury residential installations.
• Haddonstone: UK luxury cast stone garden ornament and architectural stonework manufacturer. Highly comparable: long-established British heritage brand producing bespoke and standard garden ornaments for HNW clients, designers, and luxury estates.
• Capital Garden Products: UK-based garden statuary and ornament maker supplying lead, bronze, and stone pieces to designers and luxury clients. Direct comparable: similar UK luxury garden ornament brand targeting landscape specifiers and high-end residential customers.

Others

• Annoushka Ducas: UK luxury fine jewelry designer with similar HNW clientele and British craftsmanship positioning. Adjacent rather than competitive: David Harber's existing collaboration partner (Sycamore seat) and shared customer base in luxury interior design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/davidharber

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about David Harber