Matthew Boulton was a manufacturer of small metal goods and toys. In 1761 he decided to move out of Birmingham. He acquired land at Handsworth two miles from Birmingham town Centre, and began building the Soho Manufactory in the area now occupied by South Road.

Soho Manufactory Handsworth - Soho Manufactory Under the Annex'd Firms 1800.

His products like Sheffield plate, sterling silver tableware, ormolu, coins, medals and tokens became famous and were exported all over the world.

Coffee pot and stand

Pair of Sheffield plate candlesticks

Pair of ormolu perfume burners or cassolettes

Matthew Boulton made different items for different classes of people for rich,sterling silver plate and Sheffield plate, silver-plated copper, for middle class. Boulton and and his father were making silver items before he moved to Soho Manufactory , Here he had facilities to to make large items in silver or Sheffield plate and became first Manufactory in Birmingham.Boulton's made a special efforts to market to his products to the Upper class , he started to manufacture ormolu vases previously a French speciality.

Milled gold was fused with mercury, and applied to the item, and passed through a special process of heating which removed the mercury, leaving the gold decoration. The era of 1760-70 there type decorated vases were bought by wealthy class an became a speciality of Soho. Boulton also used classical Greek works and borrowed works of art from collectors, merchants, and sculptors for his vase designs. The Soho Manufactory was closed in 1848 when son of James watt died and was demolished in the 1860s.