J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry 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. Jewelry Boxes
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Bronze
20th Century Portuguese Belle Époque J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century English Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Sterling Silver, Brass
1890s Indian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Spanish Art Deco Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Late Victorian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Sterling Silver
20th Century French Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Crystal
2010s Italian Other J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Sterling Silver
1890s English Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Jewelry Boxes
Sterling Silver, Silver
