J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase 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.
1890s American Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Brass
19th Century French French Provincial Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Brass, Enamel
Mid-19th Century Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Pine
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Wood
19th Century English Biedermeier Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Mahogany
19th Century English Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Wood
19th Century Swedish Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Late 19th Century English Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Glass, Wood
19th Century European Folk Art Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Pine
Late 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Mahogany
Early 19th Century American Colonial Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Poplar
19th Century French French Provincial Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Iron
Early 20th Century American J.E. Caldwell & Co. Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Metal
