J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
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 Victorian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1910s English Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century French J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Porcelain
1930s American Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Gold
1920s American Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Marble, Bronze
1910s American Edwardian Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
1890s American Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Brass
19th Century American Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Ormolu
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
1910s American Edwardian Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
1890s American Victorian Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
1840s American Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Art Deco J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Enamel
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Nickel
20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Silver
19th Century American Napoleon III Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Bronze, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Victorian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century American J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
1930s Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
1940s American Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century American J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Gold, Enamel
1850s American Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Silver
Late 19th Century American Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver
1870s American American Empire Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Early 20th Century American J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
1940s North American Regency Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Bronze
Early 1900s American Antique J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
1940s American Vintage J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century J.E. Caldwell & Co. Furniture
Silver