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The business was founded in 1815 by William Chawner II who was apprenticed to William Fearn in 1797.
Free in in 1804 he entered his first mark as spoonmaker in 1808 in partnership with William Eley and William Fearn.
The partnership was dissolved c. 1814 and William Chawner II entered his first mark alone in 1815. After his death (1834) the business was continued by his widow Mary (née Burwash).
Later, Mary Chawner took into partnership (1840) her son-in-law George William Adams (husband of her daughter Mary Ann), who, after her retirement (or death) managed the business as Chawner &amp; Co and remained sole partner until 1883. In this year Chawner &amp; Co was sold to Holland, Aldwinkle &amp; Slater (1883-1922, when the firm was absorbed by Francis Higgins &amp; Son Ltd).
Chawner was the most important manufacturer of spoons and forks in London and participated to the 1851 Great Exhibition and to the 1862 International Exhibition. Their pattern book (c.1875) is the reference for naming many of the patterns manufactured in the Victorian era.
Chawner &amp; Co were supplier of important retail houses as Hunt &amp; Roskell, R.&amp; S. Garrard &amp; Co, Elkington &amp; Co (in most cases they overstruck the pieces with their own mark).

William Chawner

William Eley I was the son of George Eley and was apprenticed to William Fearn in 1770. His first mark was registered in 1778, in partnership with George Pierrepont (46 Little Bartholomew Close). Soon after, William Eley I registered various marks alone; in 1778 (4 New Street, Cloth Fair and 2 George Street, Martins-le-Grand), 1785, 1790 and 1795 (14 Clerkenwell Green). Marks, in partnership with William Fearn, were registered in 1797 (14 Clerkenwell Green) and 1802 (1 Lovell's Court, Paternoster Row).

In 1808, William Chawner entered into the partnership and a new mark was entered with the initials of William Eley I, William Fearn and William Chawner.

In 1814, William Chawner left the partnership and new marks of William Eley I and William Fearn were entered in 1814 and 1824.

William Eley I had three sons: William II, Charles and Henry. All were apprenticed to their father and became silversmiths. William Eley II was apprenticed in 1808, and obtained his freedom in 1815. Charles was apprenticed in 1811, and obtained his freedom in 1818. Henry was apprenticed in 1814, and obtained his freedom in 1822.

William Eley I died in 1824, and his sons William Henri I, Charles Eley and Henry Eley entered a conjoined mark in the same year. The partnership had a short duration, and William II and Charles Eley entered their own mark on 19 January 1825. William II entered further marks in 1815 and 1826. He died in 1841.

There is some confusion in the genealogy and marks of Eley family. There are discrepancies between different authors. On this page we followed the chronology of John P. Fallon in his Marks of London Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, Georgian Period, (c. 1697 - 1837).

William Eley &amp; William Fearn

Antique Silver George III Old English Pattern Cutlery/Flatware Service made in 1809 -1813

A very fine George III period silver old English pattern cutlery /flatware service for 12 place settings.


A very fine George III period silver old English pattern cutlery /flatware service for 12 place settings.The service was made in London in 1808-1813 by

Date	1809
Made By	William Chawner
Location	London
Stock Number	FA259x26FA259x4

Antique Silver George III Old English Pattern Cutlery/Flatware Service made in 1809 -1813

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