This post will give you a brief history of how charms have been cherished through the ages and used as powerful talismans. In the middle of the post the various categories of charms are described and illustrated. The last section gives details of how to care for gold and silver charms.
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Yardley is one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world. It is said to date to a time earlier than the Great Fire of London (1666). Although this statement can not be proved, there is no doubt that the company was established a little before 1770 by Samuel Cleaver. On the death of Samuel Cleaver in 1805 in his wife and four sons inherited the business. They traded under the name of Cleaver Brothers. Notices declaring bankruptcy were issued against the four brothers in 1813. William Cleaver managed to obtain the wherewithal to keep the business afloat as William Cleaver & Company until 1823, when he was again declared bankrupt. WilliamYardley, who was related by marriage, to the Cleaver family purchased the business in 1823.
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Ephraim Potter and William Moore were born in the late eighteenth century. Both of them grew up in Mitcham, Southern England. In 1749 they founded Potter & Moore. The business was a natural progression to profit from their talents and knowledge of physic gardening. The business partners used natural ingredients to create beauty and bath products. Such was their attention to detail and insistence that only the finest ingredients were used to create their wares that these products became hugely popular.
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No records survive of the manufacturing concerns responsible for the Melissa & Regent of London brands of vanities. In these instances the accessories contained with the powder compacts and vanity sets enable us to build up a picture of the history of these delightful mid-century collectibles. Case construction and similarities of lid designs yield further clues. When we liaise with other collectors and specialists we can pool information.
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The founder of what would become the Kirby Beard Company was William Cowther. He established this business in 1743. His son, Richard, succeeded his father & went into partnership with Robert Kirby. Mr Kirby was well connected & became the Sheriff of London in 1816. By 1820 two further partners George Beard & William Tovey joined the firm. Mr Tovey was responsible for regional sales.
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By the second half of the nineteenth century many dwellings contained bathing rooms. Better hygiene ensured that people were less likely to tolerate bad odours. The industrialization of the perfume industry, increased productivity and technological advances meant that perfume was no longer an exceptional luxury. The commercial availability of fine perfumes and also perfumed soaps were deemed a necessity rather than a luxury. Despite the fact that mechanisation had brought the costs of production down certain high end perfume houses would keep their prices high to differentiate their brands from the more commonplace perfumes.
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