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Thomas Parr, son of Henry Parr late of the County of Cork in the Kingdom of Ireland clerk deceased, apprenticed to Simon Nov, 9 September 1687. Free of the apprenticeship, 8 August 1694. Liveryman of the Goldsmiths Hall, October 1712.

His first mark is entered as a large worker, undated, probably April 1697 on the commencement of his registration. His address was Wood Street, London. His second mark was entered 19 August 1717 and his address was Cheapside, London.

He was a signatory as "working goldsmith" to the petition complaining of the competition of "necessitous strangers" (the Huguenot silversmiths), December 1711. He also signed against assaying work of foreigners not having served seven years apprenticeship, February 1716.

The baptism and/or burials of eight sons and daughters of Thomas and Sarah Parr are recorded in the registers of St Matthew, Friday Street, between 1703 and 1713 and two further sons at St Vedast, Foster Lane, 1716 and 1718.

Thomas Parr’s own burial, however, appears to be unrecorded in either of these registers. He had died by 20 June 1728 when his widow Sarah entered her mark.

Thomas Parr

Antique Britannia Standard Silver Queen Anne Mug made in 1713

<p style="text-align: left;">Smily Family:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">William Smily; William Robert Smily; Samuel Smily and Thomas Smily.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">William Smily (born in 1792) was apprenticed in 1809 to Joseph Preston, spoon and fork maker.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In 1815, following the death of Joseph Preston, he was turned over to Thomas Wallis II to complete his apprenticeship. However he did not take up his freedom of the Goldsmiths' Company until 1830 (freedom by Service at the address Gee Street, Goswell Street).</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is likely that, at that time, he had commenced to work in the factory of A.B. Savory &amp; Sons at 15 Gee Street.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">His son William Robert Smily was apprenticed to him in Gee Street in 1833, obtaining his freedom in 1840.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In 1840, William Smily is recorded as residing and working at 5 Finsbury Place South, the address of another of Savory's factories where also the other two sons were apprenticed to their father (Samuel Smily I in 1840 and Thomas Smily in 1841).</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">William Smily entered his own marks at Goldsmiths' Hall only in 1855 and 1856 when he became works manager for A.B. Savory &amp; Sons. His marks (SS into a rectangle) were used on silverware manufactured for the firm (from c. 1860 often accompanied by the stamp "A.B. Savory &amp; Sons").</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In April 1865, William Smily moved to 18 Red Lion Street (the address of A.B. Savory &amp; Sons factory) were he died on 9th September of the same year.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">His eldest son, William Robert Smily, after apprenticeship to his father (1833) and freedom by Service (1840) established in 1842 his own business as W.R. Smily (spoon maker) at 7 Seaward Street, Goswell Street. In c. 1844 he moved to 9 Camomile Street, were he traded as manufacturing silversmith. In 1852 W.R. Smily moved to 65 Crown Street, Finsbury Square in the premises previously occupied by Charles Lias (1837 - 1847) and Judah Hart (1847 - 1852).</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">William Robert Smily died in 1858 (aged 34). The business was continued by his brother Thomas Smily maintaining the trade name of W.R. Smily.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Thomas Smily, the younger son of William Smily, was born in 1827. After the apprenticeship to his father (1841) and freedom by Service (1848) he, presumably, continued to work with his father for A.B. Savory &amp; Sons.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">He entered his own mark in the Goldsmiths' Hall only in 1858, when he was called to manage the business at the death of his brother William Robert Smily. The firm maintained the name of W.R. Smily until 1883, when the business was acquired by Edwin Charles Purdie. Thomas Smily emigrated to Canada, where he died in 1918.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Samuel Smily (born 1825), the other son of William Smily, after apprenticeship to his father (1840) and freedom of the Goldsmiths' Company (1847) presumably continued to work with his father for A.B. Savory &amp; Sons. After the death of William Smily (1865), Samuel Smily registered his own mark at the Goldsmith' Hall (SS into a chamfered rectangle) and took over his father's position of works manager of A.B. Savory &amp; Sons.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In 1866, A.B. Savory &amp; Sons was converted into a limited liability company and changed the name to Goldsmiths' Alliance Ltd. From this date the hallmark "SS" was often accompanied by the stamp "Goldsmiths Alliance Limited". Samuel Smily retired from Goldsmiths Alliance Ltd in 1880 and died in 1882.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Other members of Smily's family obtained their freedom of the Goldsmiths' Company but didn't enter their own mark in the Goldsmiths' Hall. They were:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">William Robert Smily II (born 1845) and his brother Alfred Smily (sons of William Robert Smily). They obtained their freedom by Patrimony in 1869 and 1871; Samuel Smily II (born 1860), son of Samuel Smily. He obtained his freedom by Service in 1882.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Thomas Smily, London 1858, mark entered 10th July 1858.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Thomas Smily, London 1866, mark entered 30th October 1866.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Thomas Smily, London 1872, mark entered 26th April 1870.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Thomas Smily, London 1876, mark entered 26th April 1870.</p>

Thomas Smily

Antique Silver Victorian Mug made in 1872

Elkington &amp; Co. was a silver manufacturer from Birmingham, England. It was founded by George Richards Elkington and his brother, Henry Elkington, in the 1830s.

It operated under the name G. R. Elkington &amp; Co. until 1842, when a third partner, Josiah Mason, joined the firm. It operated as Elkington, Mason, &amp; Co. until 1861, when the partnership with Mason was terminated.

The firm operated independently as Elkington &amp; Co. from 1861 until 1963. It was then taken over by British Silverware, Ltd. In 1971 British Silverware, Ltd. became a subsidiary of Delta Metal Co. Ltd.

Over the course of history, it became very successful and was one of the prime producers of silver plating. Elkington received various royal warrants of appointments, and an Imperial and Royal Warrant of Appointment from the emperor of Austria.

One of their most famous pieces is the electrotype copy of the Jerningham Wine Cooler at the Victoria &amp; Albert Museum.One of the most important 19th century Silversmiths finally dissolving in the late 1960s.

Elkington &amp; Co

Antique Silver Victorian Mug made in 1867

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Garrard is the longest serving jeweller in the world. Its origins can be traced back to 1735, when master silversmith George Wicks opened a store on Panton Street in the heart of London’s West End. It was in this year that the firm received its first royal commission from Frederick, Prince of Wales.

His order marked the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with the British royal family, which reached its apogee in 1843 when Garrard was appointed the first official Crown Jeweller. The house has since had the honour of serving every subsequent British monarch, as well as many other royal families around the globe. Over these years, Garrard has handcrafted tiaras, necklaces, brooches and many more magnificent jewels that are still worn by the British royal family, including the Duchess of Cambridge’s sapphire cluster engagement ring.

For over 280 years, Garrard has produced some of the finest British silverware which has been offered as gifts for all manner of occasions - from corporate gestures of thanks to personalised additions to the home. Appreciated by connoisseurs worldwide, the unique gift of Garrard is synonymous with timeless design and flawless execution.

Today Garrard calls London’s Mayfair its home. A visit to 24 Albemarle Street brings the opportunity not simply to browse its collections, but also to experience history at first hand. The building has witnessed many moments of note, including the creation of Queen Mary’s consort crown in 1911, and jewellery continues to be designed and crafted on site.

Every piece is developed to achieve a balance between tradition and design so as to bring out the natural beauty of the stones. The result is a quintessentially British hallmark of heritage, detail and craft.

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Garrard &amp; Co

Sterling Silver Elizabeth II Mug made in 1953

The firm, active as manufacturing silversmiths and electroplaters, was established in Birmingham in 1855. In 1875, the firm entered its mark in Birmingham Assay Office, while in 1879 the founders Jonathan Wilson Hukin and John Thomas Heath entered their mark in London Assay Office.

The firm was active at Imperial Works, Great Charles Street, Birmingham and in the showrooms at 19 Charterhouse Street, London. J.T. Hukin retired in 1881 and in 1886 J.T. Heath continued the partnership with John Hartshorne Middleton.

In 1904, the business was converted into a limited liability company under the style Hukin &amp; Heath Ltd. The firm went out of business in 1953.

The firm is well known for its production in the 1870s and 1880s of silver and electroplated wares under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Dresser.

Hukin &amp; Heath

Sterling Silver George VI Mug made in 1942

A sterling silver hallmark (SIR J.B.Ltd) was entered in c. 1932 in the London Assay Office by Sir John Bennett Ltd. Presumably the trade mark "Sir John Bennett" was used by retailer shops in the UK and, possibly, in Sydney (Australia).

Sir John Bennett

Sterling Silver George V Mug with Glass Bottom made in 1932

Atkin Brothers business traces its origin to Thomas Law, a silversmith active in Sheffield from c. 1750 to 1775. He was one of the only two firms combining the trades of cutlers and general silversmiths. The business was continued by his sons John and William, and later by Joseph Law (probably the son of John, as in an 1830 directory he is quoted as "Joseph Law, late John Law &amp; Son").

In 1824, the mark of Jos. Law, Jn Oxley &amp; Henry Atkin (oddly the mark was "LL", possibly for Law &amp; Law) was entered and in 1829 Henry Atkin and John Oxley, trading as Atkin, Oxley &amp; Co, succeeded to the original firm. They dissolved their partnership c. 1840. Henry Atkin continued the trade as Henry Atkin &amp; Co at 32 Howard Street, Sheffield. He died in 1853, and his sons Harry Wright Atkin, Edward Thomas Atkin and Frank Shaw Atkin continued the trade under the style Atkin Brothers in their Truro Works, Matilda Street, Sheffield. The firm opened offices in London, managed by Harry Wright Atkin, and in 1925 became a limited liability company as Atkin Brothers (Silversmiths) Ltd.

Atkin Brothers manufactured a wide range of electroplate, Britannia Metal, silver and plated cutlery supplied to Thornhill &amp; Co - London, Barraclough &amp; Sons - Leeds, Ollivant &amp; Botsford - Manchester, James Crichton &amp; Co - Edinburgh, Hall &amp; co - Manchester, Fairfax &amp; Roberts - Sydney and many other firms in the United Kingdom and in the Colonies.

Henry Atkin

Antique Silver Victorian Child’s Mug made in 1891

Antique Silver China Trade Mug / Tankard made Circa 1820 in  Canton

Heming &amp; Co

Edwardian Silver Miniature Tankard of Golf Interest made in1907

From then to the present-day, people have been enjoying drinks from wonderful vessels. We have a vast stock from lidded tankards to mugs.

Silver Mugs

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