J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
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 Edwardian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Victorian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
1930s Danish Rococo Revival Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Metal
Early 1900s American Rococo Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
1930s American Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
1910s American Edwardian Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Crystal
20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century English J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Cement, Sterling Silver
1940s American Edwardian Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
1950s American Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
1820s English Rococo Revival Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Candlesticks
Sterling Silver