Dauphin

Name

Dauphin

Legal name

Dauphin Acrylic Design

Website

https://dauphin.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Museum Display Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing (3379)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Music & Performance Equipment (Instruments, Art Supplies, Stage/Lighting Basics) (EDAEAIAH)

Keywords

• Custom mount making
• Acrylic display fabrication
• Museum exhibition displays
• Perspex display cases
• Bespoke object mounts

Headquarters

HQ city

Tetsworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Bespoke Mounts and Displays: One-off custom mounts, display cases, and plinths for museums, galleries, and private collectors. Pricing typically involves 50% deposit with order and balance on delivery, with 100% deposit for orders under £200.
2. Ready-Made Stock Products: Pre-manufactured acrylic displays, stands, plate hangers, and blocks sold through e-commerce. Normal payment terms are with order. Includes wall-mounted displays, free-standing displays, shelves, and cleaning/conservation products.
3. Art Consultancy Services: Advisory services for exhibition design, object display, logistics, and installation. Provides mounting advice on tender documents and HLF applications for museum projects. Includes site visits and assessments.
4. Large-Scale Museum Projects and Tenders: Project-based work for complete museum redisplay and exhibition projects, working with fit-out contractors and museums on public and private sector projects internationally.
5. Restoration Services: Acrylic restoration services for scratched/dull covers and chipped acrylic sculptures, avoiding the need to remake items where possible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dauphin handcrafts custom and ready-made mounts, display cases, plinths, plate hangers, and acrylic furniture for museums, galleries, private collectors and antique dealers. Production uses Perspex/acrylic, wood, and metal (including approved Tru Vue Optium Museum acrylic), with installation and art consultancy services for exhibition projects worldwide. The company combines an e-commerce shop of stock items with project-based bespoke manufacturing.

Product overview

Dauphin operates as a specialist manufacturer of display solutions with two primary offerings: a catalogue of Ready Made Displays (stock acrylic mounts, stands, blocks, plate hangers, and conservation products available for immediate purchase) and Bespoke Mounts/Fabrication services (custom-designed mounts, display cases, and acrylic fabrication for individual commissions and large museum projects). The company also provides art consultancy, museum installation services, and works with materials including Perspex, Tru Vue Optium Museum acrylic, wood, and metal. Founded in 1986 and holding a Royal Warrant as Mount Makers to Her Majesty the Queen, Dauphin serves museums, institutions, and collectors worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bespoke Mounts Custom-designed and handcrafted object mounts produced to exact specifications for individual artefacts, ranging from simple one-off pieces to complete museum collection installations. Made in acrylic, wood, and metal with options for specialist finishes such as bronze or real metal bases.
• Acrylic Fabrication Custom Perspex/acrylic fabrication services producing display cases, covers, frames, plinths, and furniture using materials including Tru Vue Optium Museum acrylic. Specialises in Museum Join bonding for superior clarity and strength.
• Ready Made Displays Stock display mounts and stands available for immediate purchase, including solid acrylic blocks, bridges, plate and bowl stands, pincer stands, jewellery stands, plate hangers, and conservation products.
• Museum Project Services Large-scale museum display installation services including complete redisplay projects, new exhibition mounting, and tender-based contracts for public and private institutions across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the USA.
• Art Consultancy Services Expert consultation on object display, logistics, installation, and exhibition design for exhibition designers, fit-out contractors, private clients and museums. Includes mounting advice for tender documents and HLF applications, plus provision of digital designs and 3D visualisations.
• Acrylic Restoration Services Restoration services for scratched or dull acrylic covers and chipped acrylic sculptures, avoiding the need to remake items where possible.

Quantifiable outcome

• Protects artefacts while providing display grandeur, as evidenced by work with major collections including Barbara Hepworth sculptures, Andy Warhol works, and Sutton Hoo artefacts

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SE1 Picture FramescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with SE1 Picture Frames on conservation framing projects. SE1 handles framing work while Dauphin provides acrylic display solutions. Worked together on NHS public art exhibition featuring Damien Hirst artwork, combining conservation framing with Dauphin's acrylic mounting expertise.
• Tru VuecoreTechnology or IntegrationApproved case fabricator of Tru Vue Optium Museum acrylic. One of only eight companies worldwide authorised to work with this specialist museum-grade acrylic providing 99% UV protection, abrasion resistance, and anti-reflective properties.
• Simon Leach DesignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExhibition designer for Ely Museum installation. Collaborated on art installations including hanging spades and Anglo Saxon hoard mounts. Simon Leach Design provided exhibition design while Dauphin handled mount making and installation.
• The WorkhausminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFit out contractor for museum projects including Ely Museum. Works alongside Dauphin on installation projects where Dauphin provides mounting expertise.
• Express Wire RopesminorOthersSupplier of 1.5mm wire rope for hanging installations. Used for art installations at Ely Museum capable of supporting weights up to 35kg.
• FlintsminorOthersSupplier of discreet ceiling fittings for hanging installations. Used in museum exhibition installations.
• Wilensky MineralsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York-based minerals dealer. Dauphin provided art consultancy services including survey and display advice for mineral specimen collection. Seeing specimens in person was vital for understanding mounting and lighting requirements for exhibition design.
• LAPADAminorOthersAssociation of Art and Antiques Dealers. Dauphin is an Approved Service Provider member, providing credibility and access to LAPADA's dealer network.
• Museums AssociationminorOthersProfessional body for museums. Dauphin maintains membership as part of industry recognition and networking within the museum sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Others

• Tru Vue: Manufacturer of museum-grade glazing products including Optium Museum Acrylic, the conservation-grade acrylic Dauphin is approved to fabricate. Functions as a key technology supplier and certification gatekeeper for Dauphin's premium museum display work rather than a direct competitor.
• Pilkington (NSG Group): Global glass manufacturer supplying architectural and specialty glazing including museum-grade products. Operates as a potential upstream supplier and broad incumbent in the museum glazing category rather than competing directly with Dauphin's bespoke acrylic mount-making services.

Broad incumbents

• 3form: US manufacturer of architectural resin and acrylic-based design products for partitions, displays, and feature walls. Overlaps with Dauphin in aesthetic acrylic fabrication for built environments but focuses on large-scale architectural installations rather than bespoke museum object mounts.
• Plexi-Craft: US-based custom acrylic fabrication shop producing displays, cases, point-of-purchase fixtures, and architectural elements. Compares to Dauphin in custom acrylic fabrication capabilities but serves a much broader retail and commercial customer base rather than the museum specialty.
• Romag: UK-based acrylic fabrication specialist serving security, transit, architectural, and display markets. Overlaps with Dauphin in acrylic display manufacturing but operates across broader end markets including riot shields, security screens, and architectural glazing rather than specializing solely in museum mounts.

Direct peers

• Glasbau Hahn: German specialist in museum display cases and vitrines with a long heritage serving European cultural institutions. Directly comparable to Dauphin in museum-grade acrylic case fabrication, conservation glazing, and bespoke display engineering for museum and gallery projects.
• Goppion: Italian high-end museum display case fabricator whose work includes the Smithsonian, the Louvre, and Apple Park Visitor Center. Direct peer in the premium museum vitrine segment with comparable museum-grade acrylic and glass fabrication capabilities targeting the same institutional clients as Dauphin.
• ClickNetherfield: UK-based specialist manufacturer of museum display cases, vitrines, and bespoke exhibition furniture. Closest direct competitor to Dauphin in the UK heritage market, serving the same museum and gallery customer base with comparable acrylic and glass case fabrication services.

Emerging players

• Decorative Panels Ltd: UK manufacturer of decorative and functional panels for furniture, retail, and interior fit-out applications. Partial overlap with Dauphin in custom acrylic/laminate fabrication for display and furniture applications, though Decorative Panels focuses on flat panel production rather than bespoke mount making.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Dauphinltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/dauphinacrylic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Dauphin