J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
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.
1940s English Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
19th Century English Neoclassical Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
Late 19th Century French Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Ormolu
1890s Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
1990s German Mid-Century Modern J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
Early 1900s English Aesthetic Movement Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
19th Century English Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain, Pottery
1830s English Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
1810s English George III Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century British Gothic Revival Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
19th Century English Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain, Pottery
19th Century English Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Pottery, Porcelain
Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
20th Century English Belle Époque J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
Late 19th Century American Egyptian Revival Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Porcelain
Porcelain
