J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
With intricate and refined artistry, the jewelers at J.E.Caldwell & Co. have been handcrafting illustrious watches and adornments — including cocktail rings, engagement rings and link bracelets — for nearly two centuries. The American firm, which is among the oldest silver and jewelry companies in the United States, has found acclaim with collectors and buyers worldwide.
Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, J.E. Caldwell & Co. founder James Emmott Caldwell (1813–81) apprenticed as a silversmith and subsequently trained in watchmaking under the esteemed watchmaker Samuel Ward Benedict in New York City. Following his apprenticeships, Caldwell sought work in Philadelphia, initially securing a position with a wholesale jeweler before importing watches for a jewelry manufacturer. In the late 1830s, he established a storefront of his own, in a stately marble building on Chestnut street. Caldwell partnered with James M. Bennett thereafter in order to launch a jewelry shop nearby that they called Bennett & Caldwell. With the passing of Bennett, Caldwell partnered with a former employer, John C. Farr, and changed the company name, establishing the J.E. Caldwell & Co. of today.
In 1876, Philadelphia hosted the first World’s Fair held in the United States. Alongside the Gorham Manufacturing Company — a legendary but largely overlooked American silver firm — J.E. Caldwell showcased an array of stunning jewelry and silver objects at the event’s Centennial International Exhibition. In the early 1900s, J.E. Caldwell was contracted to fashion a presentation silver tea service — more than 160 pieces — for a newly commissioned battleship, the U.S.S. Pennsylvania. The brand’s exquisite silver wares traveled at sea aboard this battleship — and later, on the U.S.S. Valley Forge — for decades.
J.E. Caldwell & Co. became known for exquisite Art Nouveau and Art Deco jewelry. Ownership of the firm passed through the family over the years before changing hands to business interests outside of the family. Today a J.E. Caldwell & Co. retail location continues to operate in Philadelphia.
Find antique and vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. jewelry on 1stDibs.
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Nickel
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Gold, Enamel
Mid-19th Century American Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Bronze
Early 20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Ormolu
20th Century American Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Enamel
1920s American Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Jade, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1760s French Louis XV Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Bronze
19th Century European Neoclassical Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Bronze
1930s American Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Metal
Early 20th Century Dutch Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Chrome
1920s North American Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1930s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Metal
Early 20th Century American Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Chrome
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Brass, Enamel
1920s French Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Bronze
1930s German Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Brass, Chrome
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Enamel
Early 20th Century American J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Metal
Late 19th Century Gothic Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Louis XVI J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Bronze
Late 19th Century Gothic Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Bronze
19th Century American Federal Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Glass, Mahogany
19th Century American Egyptian Revival Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Breccia Marble, Siena Marble, Bronze
19th Century American Napoleon III Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Slate, Marble, Brass, Bronze
19th Century American Louis XVI Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Clocks
Marble, Bronze