Antique and collectible history / Antique Gold

Victorian Alfred Ivory Solid Gold Locket

A Brief History Of Goldsmith Alfred Ivory, Cellini & Elizabethan Pattern Work

During the Victorian era the refined tastes of royalty, nobility and the well heeled expected the finest gold & silversmiths in the United Kingdom to craft superbly ornamented jewellery & silverware. These pieces are so well made and beautiful that they are still highly prized and sought-after in the 21st century. The desire for superbly ornamented pieces expressed itself in the popularity of Cellini & Elizabethan pattern work. 
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G.E. Walton & Co. Ltd. Gold Locket

G.E. WALTON & CO. LTD. Jeweller, Gold & Silversmith

By the late Victorian era this firm was described as one of the largest watch-key and gold & silver chain makers in the world. At this time it employed as many as 300 highly skilled workers. The company manufactured patented goods for other businesses. For example Birch’s patent watch keys and also other brands of watch keys.
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History And Patents Of W H Collins Manufacturing Jeweller & Goldsmith

History And Patents Of W H Collins Manufacturing Jeweller & Goldsmith

The trade advertisement above shows that the firm was patenting their inventions from the Victorian era. 
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Solid Gold Antique Lockets By Albert Ernest Jenkins

The Fabulous Antique Gold Keepsake Lockets Of Albert Ernest Jenkins

The goldsmith known as Albert Ernest Jenkins is one of our favourite locket makers. His superior quality lockets are among the finest we have seen and yet despite the presence of his finely wrought lockets, he remains a mystery.
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Edwardian Fully Hallmarked Gold Lockets

The Ultimate Guide To Buying Authentic Edwardian Jewellery

This guide will show you how to guarantee that you are buying authentic Edwardian jewellery.

While other blogs deal with Edwardian style and fashion we are endeavouring to compile a guide to enable accurate dating.

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Fully Hallmarked 15 Carat Gold Antique Locket Necklace

Goldsmiths Sheldon Brothers And Their Antique Gold Lockets

Sheldon Brothers began trading in 1881. The firm operated from buildings located in the heart of the London & Birmingham Jewellery Quarters. In the Victorian era their business premises were listed as 6 Vyse Street, Birmingham and 65 Hatton Garden, London, EC. 

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Crisford & Norris Patented Powder Compact Design

Crisford & Norris History, Patent Drawings And Patents

This firm of manufacturing silversmiths was active from 1896 - 1959, when it was acquired by Ward Brothers (Birmingham) Ltd. The business premises of Harold Crisford & William Clement Norris were located at 117-118 Vyse Street in the heart of the Birmingham jewellery quarter. The company is noted for its high quality luxury pieces which include babies rattles, bookmarks, boxes, button hooks, card cases, powder compacts, match box holders, napkin rings, pepperettes, shoe horns, spoons, stamp cases and trophy cups.

 

 

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History Of The Wax Seal, Ciphers & Fobs

History Of The Wax Seal, Ciphers & Fobs

Seals have been used since ancient times to seal goods and important communications. Seals were used as early as the seventh millennium B.C. to stamp impressions in clay.  In the fourth millennium B.C. carved cylinders that could be rolled over clay were being used in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia included parts of modern day Iran, Syria & Turkey. The cylinder seals were used to create frieze-like designs on clay.
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S Blanckensee & Son Ltd. Jewellers & Silversmiths

S Blanckensee & Son Ltd. Jewellers & Silversmiths

Solomon Blanckensee was born in 1801 in Filehne, Wielen, Czarnków-Trzcianka County, Poland. His father was Levin Blanckensee & his mother Julia Joseph. He had three brothers, Issac, Myer & Moses. By the time of his death in 1864 he was a highly successful jeweller. He died in the county of Warwickshire, Great Britain.
In 1826, Solomon Blanckensee founded a jewellery concern based in Bristol, England. The business proved to be highly successful and as time went by it acquired a number of other prominent jewellery firms. The size of the business and quality of the products meant that it had few others considered to be its equals.
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