Bennett & Caldwell Coin Silver Pitcher, circa 1850

Name: Bennett & Caldwell Coin Silver Pitcher, circa 1850
Brand: J.E. Caldwell & Co.
Price: 1825 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Coin silver hand hammered water pitcher circa 1850 by Philadelphia makers Bennett and Caldwell. Leaf motif along handle, leaf and floral design around body and base, intricate leaf and beading around rim of spout. Measuring 12 inches tall and 9 1/2 inches from handle to spout. Weighing 26.9 troy ounces. Bearing hallmarks and inscriptions as shown. J.E. Caldwell & Co. was a major jewellery retailer and one-time silversmith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm experienced rapid growth from the start, and repeated enlargements and removals were made necessary from time to time to gain the greater facilities demanded. In 1843, James Caldwell entered in partnership with Bennett, acting under the name Bennett & Caldwell. Caldwell acquired a national reputation through its silver services presented to battleships and cruisers of the US Navy. It exhibited at The Centennial Exposition in 1876, representing the American Jewelry Maker.

Creator:

J.E. Caldwell & Co. (Maker)

Dimensions:

Height: 12 in (30.48 cm)Diameter: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Silver

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

1850-1859

Date of Manufacture:

1850s

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

New York, NY

Reference Number:

Seller: 249671stDibs: LU5594223919272

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Shop All J.E. Caldwell & Co.

J.E. Caldwell & Co.

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.

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