J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
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.
Early 20th Century American Victorian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Crystal, Sterling Silver
20th Century Portuguese Belle Époque J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Bronze
19th Century English Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Crystal, Brass, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Spanish Art Deco Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
1970s French Neoclassical Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Metal, Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Sterling Silver, Silver
20th Century French Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Crystal
Late 19th Century English Art Deco Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Crystal, Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
1870s English Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Wood
Mid-19th Century English Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Sterling Silver, Brass
19th Century Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Early 20th Century North American Modern J.E. Caldwell & Co. Boxes
Sterling Silver
