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John Yeomans Cowlishaw was related to the Mappin family through his mother Mary; he was nephew to John Newton Mappin, who founded the Mappin Art Gallery (which later became Weston Park Museum) and was cousin to the Mappin brothers, who founded Mappin Brothers and Mappin &amp; Webb.

John Cowlishaw lived with his uncle John Newton Mappin from a young age and followed him into the family business, making silver fruit knives. Cowlishaw joined the family firm, Joseph Mappin &amp; Son, in Pepper Alley as a pearl cutter and dealer, and by 1854 he had started his own firm in Norfolk Street making silver fruit knives and cutting mother of pearl. When John N. Mappin finally retired from pearl cutting he gave the business to Cowlishaw who combined it with his own. As the business grew, he moved into larger workshops finally working from 67 Arundel Street.

He became very rich and his talent can be seen in the pearl handled knives he produced; President Abraham Lincoln even owned a knife made by Cowlishaw in 1855.

After Cowlishaw’s death in 1895, his son John Edward Cowlishaw took over running the company until his retirement in 1901. The Cowlishaw name passed out of the family and was run from various different addresses in the city. By the early 1970s, the company was based at Portland Works, Hill Street.

Cowlishaw &amp; Co

Antique Silver Victorian Fruit Knives & Forks made in 1896

A fine set of Victorian fruit eaters by Cowlishaw &amp; Company (retailed by Lawson of Brighton) in its original fitted coromandel wood case.


A fine set comprising 12 pairs of Victorian fruit eaters made in 1896, all in original fitted coromandel wood case. The handles are carved mother of pearl.

Date	1896
Made By	Cowlishaw & Co
Location	Sheffield
Stock Number	FA105x32

Antique Silver Victorian Fruit Knives & Forks made in 1896

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