Famous Silversmiths

Buccellati, Mario (1891 – 1965)

When the name Buccellati is mentioned what comes to mind is their exquisite textural gold jewelry and wonderful silver objects. Spanning many decades, their designs have maintained a high standard of craftsmanship and quality.

The firm was founded by Mario Buccellati, who began his career at the age of 12 apprenticing with a highly reputable jewelry shop in Milan, Beltrami and Beltrami. It was here that the young Mario learned the best in Italian traditions and techniques. Mario took over the company in 1919 and renamed it Buccellati. In the same year, he opened his first boutique located in Milan on Via degli Orefici. Mario exhibited for the first time in 1920 at the Jewelry Exposition in Madrid. His collection was a tremendous success and his merchandise completely sold out. After his success in Madrid, he was invited back for a solo show. At this time, the royal family and Spanish aristocrats soon became lifelong clients of his. Buccellati’s craftsmanship became recognizable across Europe for its gold jewels and intricate silverware. Mario Buccellati was referred to as “The Prince of Goldsmith”.

During the 1950’s, Buccellati had a major expansion in the United States. In 1954, Buccellati opened their first New York flagship store on 5th Avenue. Soon after this, in 1958, they opened up another boutique in Palm Beach, Florida. As the company expanded and gained international exposure, four of Mario’s sons got involved in the business. After Mario passed away in 1965, his son Lorenzo took over the operations in Florence and Milan. Federico was in charge of the Rome boutique and Luca and Gianmaria took over the United States operations.

Gianmaria Buccellati built an enormous empire expanding across major cities and countries around the world. He was in charge of all of the business in the United States as well as managing the boutiques in Milan, Beverly Hills, New York and Paris. He also was extremely involved in establishing the franchises in Capri, Venice, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

The name Buccellati is as popular as it ever has been, and there are collectors and customers all over the world for their jewelry and their silver!!

Articles by Buccellati

Italian Silver Buccellati Serving Dish

Pair of Italian Silver Buccellati Leaf Shaped Dishes

Pair of Italian Sterling Silver Buccellati Oval Bowls

Cartier (1847 to Present)

Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier and since its inception, has epitomized exceptional jewels as well as innovative and original ideas. Despite immense uncertainty and unrest during the ongoing French Revolution, Cartier continued to see success and growth into the next decade, opening the first Cartier boutique in 1859. Unafraid to play with abstract shapes, geometric forms, and unique color pairings, the firm quickly moved with the times and embraced movements such as neo-classicalism, art deco and modernism.

Known for pushing the boundaries of design and innovation, Cartier has always tried to be thinking ahead of the times. In the early 1900s, even before the Art Deco style emerged, Cartier began the figurative designs of Art Nouveau with abstract shapes and geometric motifs. They were the first firm to make jewelry out of platinum. During the roaring 1920s, Cartier became very involved in Art Deco grandeur, with designs that often incorporated Asian and Egyptian themes. Botanical and fruit designs took their cue from the Islamic flower motifs of the Mughal Empire which were Indian stone carving techniques with French platinum and diamond settings. These joyful, colorful jewels would eventually be known as “Tutti Fruitti” and are in high demand today.

Cartier is a luxury brand famous not only for their exceptional jewelry, but also for their extensive collection of silver and fold personal luxury items. Many of the silver and gold items that were created for Cartier were smaller pieces which were for personal use, such as compact mirrors, smoking accessories, and note holders. Cartier not only stocked a variety of luxury good and homewares such as tableware and serving items, but also offered timepieces, clocks and silver woven baskets.

Cartier silver was usually made by silversmiths outside of the company for large scale commissions, or individually skilled artisan makers who were able to live up to the brands reputation for both style and quality. Cartier began using retailer’s marks on their silver in the 1860s. The business continued to grow, and Cartier’s success in the early twentieth century meant that the firm found themselves commissioning larger amounts and variations of jewelry, as well as silver and gold items.

Articles by Cartier

American Sterling Silver Cartier Table Bell

Pair of American Sterling Silver Cartier Baskets

Stone, Arthur (1847 – 1938)

Arthur Stone was an American silversmith who trained and worked in Sheffield, England, and Edinburgh, Scotland before traveling back to the United States in 1884. He was one of the last silversmiths in America to train apprentices to make designs in hand-wrought silver. He first worked for William B. Durgin Company in Concord, New Hampshire before moving in 1887 to Gardner, Massachusetts. There he became the designer and manager for the newly formed Frank W. Smith Company. In 1901, Stone set up a workshop in Gardner, Massachusetts under his own name. His business flourished rather quickly and the demand for his work became so great that he hired 12 men, eight of whom were qualified as master craftsmen. Arthur Stone’s work can be recognized by his trademark. This is an “A” for Arthur in the form of a hammer with the handle extending through the name “Stone”. This can be found on every piece he made. Each of the craftsmen employed by him also signed their work by using their initials. Arthur Stone remained in business for 36 years until he sold the business to Henry Heywood. Today, he is recognized as America’s premier Arts and Crafts Silversmith.

Articles by Arthur Stone

Set of 4 American Silver Pepper Casters

Tiffany and Company (1837 to Present)

Tiffany and Co. is a well-known American luxury Jewelry and silverware company that was founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in New York City. While it is predominantly known for its exquisite diamond jewelry and engagement rings, Tiffany and Co. also produced a wide range of silverware, including flatware, holloware, and giftware. The company’s silverware is crafted from high-quality sterling silver and is known for its timeless design and superior craftsmanship. Tiffany and Co. has a long history of collaborating with renowned designers to create unique and elegant silverware collections. Some of the most famous designs include the ‘Chrysanthemum’ collection designed by Charles T. Grosjean, the ‘Vine’ collection by Paulding Farnham, and the ‘English King’ collection by William Hood.

Even though Tiffany and Co. is regarded as a premier American luxury jewelry and silverware company, it actually did not start out like that. Originally, the company sold fancy stationery and goods under the name Tiffany and Young. Even though America was in an economic recession at the time, the company flourished with with its quality merchandise imported from Europe and India. In 1841, they added J. L. Ellis as a partner and the firm became Tiffany, Young & Ellis and was located in Lower Manhattan. The first of the Tiffany “Blue Book” catalogues appeared in 1845 and with this, the first beginnings of silver merchandise were presented. In the first catalogue, small range of personal items appeared and all, were most certainly, imported.

The firm expanded to a larger space at 271 Broadway in 1847. This enabled a significant increase in the retailing of silver and jewelry. At this time, American made silver started to take its place alongside the Tiffany name. 1851 was a very important year in the history of American silver. Tiffany, Young & Ellis, seeking to distinguish their silver articles, became the first American firm to introduce the use of the English Sterling (.925) standard in American made silver.

Both Young & Ellis retired in 1853, giving Charles Tiffany control of the firm. Once again, he moved the firm to larger premises. This time it was to 550 Broadway. He also at this time, changed the name as we know it today, Tiffany and Company. Over the next two decades, Tiffany worked closely with John C. Moore, who was one of the finest and most distinguished American holloware silversmiths. He produced exclusively for Tiffany’s and at this time, his son, Edward Chandler Moore joined the firm. This was the beginning of its greatest creativity of American silver. One of the most important services made by Tiffany in the 19th century was the Dinner and Dessert Service for twenty-four. This was made for John W. Mackay, an Irish-American industrialist. His service consisted of 1,250 pieces made from half a ton of silver. Charles Grosjean of Tiffany designed the service and Edward C. Moore supervised the project. Charles Carpenter in his book ‘Tiffany Silver’ notes that this was ‘the largest, the grandest, the most elegantly ornate and most famous set of its time’. In 1867, at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, Tiffany became the first American firm to win an award for excellence in silver.

In 1868, Charles Tiffany made an important decision regarding the firm. He reached an agreement with Edward C. Moore and purchased Moore’s firm. Now, Tiffany and Co. was a silver manufacturer as well as a silver retailer. Also, at this time, the silver was to be marked with the initial of the President of the firm. This continued until the mid-1960’s.

Today, Tiffany and Co. is a worldwide brand that markets itself on taste and style. Still being an American brand, Tiffany and Co. focuses on luxury jewelry, china, glassware, and sterling silver as well as other miscellaneous accessories. Tiffany’s is a specialty retailer, sticking to it’s roots with its headquarters still in New York City. On January 7th 2021 LVMH completed the acquisition of Tiffany & Co. Since then, they have completely refurbished their New York City store and (in our opinion it looks more beautiful than ever). Alexandre Arnault, son of billionaire and LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, has revamped the brand to attract younger buyers; Jay Z and Beyonce are its latest ambassadors.