
Federal Style Seascape & Patriotic Mahogany Banjo Clock by J. E. Caldwell & Co.
View Similar Items
Federal Style Seascape & Patriotic Mahogany Banjo Clock by J. E. Caldwell & Co.
About the Item
- Creator:J.E. Caldwell & Co. (Clockmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 8.5 in (21.59 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
- Style:Federal (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:19th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Paint losses; working and with key.
- Seller Location:Big Flats, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 638341stDibs: LU239639527191
J.E. Caldwell & Co.
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.

More From This Seller
View AllAntique Late 19th Century Mantel Clocks
Crystal
Antique Late 19th Century Mantel Clocks
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Gothic Wall Clocks
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Mantel Clocks
Slate
Antique Late 19th Century Wall Clocks
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century English Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Mahogany
You May Also Like
Antique 1820s American Federal Wall Clocks
Brass
Early 20th Century Mantel Clocks
Ormolu
Antique 1890s American Victorian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Brass
Early 20th Century Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Wood
Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Nickel
20th Century American Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel