According to one of its trade price lists, A. Leete & Company was a manufacturer and supplier of 'Paints, Distempers, Colors, Enamels, Varnishes, Polishes, Stains, Painting Brushes' and importers of 'Oils, Chemicals, Greases, Waxes, Gums, Glues, Shellacs & General Drysaltery'. Established in 1826, Leete had a factory in Mansfield Street, off Borough Road in South East London, and offices and a warehouse at 129 London Road, Southwark. The company was probably founded by Alfred Leete, who died in 1889 and whose estate passed in 1890 to his son, also named Alfred (born ca. 1851). In the 1901 census Alfred Leete's profession is given as 'Paint Manufacturer'.

The family-run company continued until at least 1983 when it was operating from the Kent Park Industrial Estate, Ruby Street, London SE15. It provided paint and related items to a range of customers and was well known as a supplier to the theatre industry, which used Leete paints and products for scene painting. The back cover of one of the company's leaflets is printed with an image of the factory and the strap-line, 'Leete's Scenic Colors Are The Best'. A file of business papers held by the V&A’s Department of Theatre and Performance shows that the company supplied paint to the Wimbledon Theatre in 1923 and to the London Festival Ballet in the 1970s. Leete's was still in family hands in 1974 but by 1983 had become part of Tor Coatings Group.

This jar contains Vivid Green powder paint manufactured by Leete.