Important American and European Silver Makers

This table lists silver makers with location and marks. Dates given are approximate working dates. Birth and death dates for individuals are in parentheses. Silver Maker Location Dates Mark Buccellati Milan, Italy 1919–present Cartier Paris, London, New York City 1847–present Cellini, Inc. Warwick, Rhode Island 1961–present Christofle Paris, France 1830–present Gorham Company Providence, Rhode Island […]

Tiffany & Company

The famous store Tiffany & Company traces its origins back to Tiffany & Young, a stationery and fancy goods store started in New York by Charles Lewis Tiffany and James B. Young in 1837. Sixteen years later, when Charles Tiffany took control of the business, it was renamed Tiffany & Company. The rich and famous […]

Liberty & Company

Liberty & Company is one of the most famous stores in London. The original store was established in 1875. The owner, Arthur Lasenby, had art nouveau fabrics made for the store. Egyptian and Moorish furniture was imported; later, Arts and Crafts pieces were sold. By the early 1900s, the store was selling art pottery by […]

Mexican Silversmiths

Mexican silversmiths made bowls, pitchers, ashtrays, cigarette boxes, desk sets and silverware as well as jewelry. The most famous jewelers, Spratling and Los Castillo, were the best-known makers of silver tableware, and both companies are still working. Photo: Sotheby’s These odd silver and wood candlesticks were made by William Spratling in about 1967.

Gorham Marks for Martele and Athenic

Maker Dates Mark Martelé (c.1905) Athenic (1901–c.1915)

Georg Jensen and Scandinavian Design

The most famous Scandinavian silver firm is Georg Jensen Silversmithy, founded in 1904. The jewelry, silverware, and hollow ware made by Georg Jensen and his designers created a look that was unlike other pieces made in the early 1900s. His designs influenced the silver made in the United States, England, and other countries for many […]

English Silver

The English have been known for fine silver and silver plate for centuries. The traditional designs introduced in the eighteenth century and later have remained popular and are still being made. Fortunately the English have had very strict laws about silver guilds, makers, quality of silver, and markings. All silver of sterling quality made in […]

Gorham Company

The history of the well-known Gorham Company goes back to Jabez Gorham, who formed his own company in 1818. The name became Gorham & Company, then Gorham Manufacturing Company, then Gorham Company. The company was making coin silver spoons by 1831, and by the mid-nineteenth century Gorham was making silver-plated serving pieces, hollow ware, napkin […]