Carrington & Co. Antique Ruby, Diamond and Pearl Crescent Brooch

If dishing up exquisite silverware was Carrington & Co.’s bread and butter, trophy cups and royal jewels were the main course. Among the illustrious names that commissioned brooches, tableware, cufflinks and more across its rich history were Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Edward VII, George V and the Russian Tsars.

Founded in 1873 by John Bodman Carrington, Carrington & Co. came out of a manufacturing business tied to G.R. Collis & Co. It began producing silver plates for restaurants, hotels and ships in 1880, and after nearly 10 years, Carrington & Co. expanded into dealing precious stones and jewelry. Partners William Carrington Smith and George Bruford later joined Carrington, who retired in 1906.

Its silverware matched popular eras of taste, including the ornate and well-decorated Late Victorian style and the light eclecticism that defined Edwardian style. Its trophies, which included the 1921 Prince of Wales Cup, reflected the company’s talent in serveware and further developed its design reach. In the 1920s, Carrington added another royal favorite — natural pearls — to its repertoire with gentlemen’s watches and ladies’ wristlet watches.

Of its numerous royal commissions, the Dorset Bow Royal brooch, Cullinan III brooch and Cullinan IV brooch have achieved the most prestige. The Dorset Bow’s design was said to be drawn from an 1855 piece made for Empress Eugénie. Queen Mary wore the brooch on several occasions before giving it to Princess Elizabeth as a wedding gift.

The Cullinan III and IV brooches were cut from the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found. Queen Mary commissioned them in 1911 as a pair, which were originally set into the band of her crown. They are considered to be the most valuable brooches in the world.

The Carrington & Co. firm was acquired by Collingwood in 1922.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Carrington & Co. decorative objects, serveware and more furniture and collectibles.