18th & 19th Century Canadian Silversmith & Their Marks JH Tee Antiques

18TH AND 19TH CENTURY CANADIAN SILVERSMITHS

Below is a discussion of 18th and 19th century Canadian Silversmiths and their marks. For information on 20th century makers see our article.

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French Colonial Period (pre-1760): Silversmiths were known to have been working in New France as early as the end of the 17th century, though no examples of this early work survive. By the middle of the 18th century, silversmithing was a well-established trade, primarily centered in Quebec city. The Catholic church was by far the most important patron, domestic silver from this period being relatively rare. Silversmiths followed the styles in fashion in France at the time and also used maker’s marks similar to those used in France: typically a crown or Fleur-de-lis above the maker’s initials with a small device below.

English Colonial Period (post-1760): Montreal gradually took over as the center of silversmithing in Canada although there were also a number of silversmiths in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces. English styles became the norm and silversmiths began to use English-style maker’s marks: typically their initials in a rectangular outline. These marks were occasionally accompanied by “Montreal”, “Quebec” or “H”, “HN” or “HNS” for Halifax. By the early 19th century it was common for Canadian silversmiths marks to include pseudo marks that resembled British hallmarks, like sovereign’s heads, lions. These silversmiths generally had small shops, did most of their work by hand and were less likely to employ the expensive dies and castings that were common in Europe.

There was no official regulation of the purity of the metal used in the industry in Canada until the early 20th century and silver was not mined in Canada until the late 19th century so silversmiths used whatever sources of metal were available to them including coins and unwanted silverware. Unlike the Spanish coins used to make silver in the United States at the time, the English and French coins in circulation had a slightly higher silver content at .925 and .917 respectively.

Antique Canadian Silver Claret Jug Savage and Lyman- JH Tee Antiques

MARKS A – K

Laurent Amoit

Laurent Amoit – Quebec City (active 1787-1839) Important and prolific silversmith, served an apprenticeship in Paris, had many commissions from the Roman Catholic church and Quebec Aristocracy. His works appear in the National Gallery of Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Amiot had several apprentices including Francios Sasseville, Pierre Lesperance and Paul Morin. For more on Amoit see the National Gallery of Canada.

John Barry

John Barry – St John, NB (1838-1857).

Canadian silver hallmark maker's mark of Henry Birks of Montreal c. 1900

Henry Birks & Sons

Henry Birks & Sons – Montreal (1879 – ) Retail Jewellers and Silversmiths, began manufacturing silverware in 1899 after taking over Hendery & Leslie. See a more detailed bio here.

David Bohle

David Bohle – Montreal (?-1870) Brother of Peter Bohle.

Peter Bohle

Peter Bohle – Montreal (1786 – 1865) Apprenticed to Robert Cruickshank in 1800, partnered with Robert Hendery 1853 -1856, supplied many Montreal retailers.

Canadian silver hallmark maker's mark of Bohle and Hendery of Montreal

Bohle & Hendery

Bohle & Hendery – Montreal (1850-56) Partnership of Peter Bohle and Robert Hendery, manufacturing silversmiths that supplier many Montreal Retailers.

Michael Septimus Brown

Michael Septimus Brown – Halifax NS (1818-1886) Apprenticed to Peter Nordbeck, the firm became MS Brown & Co in 1886 and was absorbed by Birks in 1919.

Robert Cruickshank

Robert Cruickshank – Montreal (1767-1809). A prominent and successful businessman, he immigrated from Scotland and set up a prolific firm, well know for Indian Trade Silver, ecclesiastical pieces and domestic silver in the neoclassical style.

George Lacy Darling

George Lacy Darling – Simcoe, On (1852-1899) Retail Jeweller.

Charles François Delique

Charles François Delique – Montreal (1738-1767).

James E Ellis

James E Ellis – Toronto (1848-1871) Succeeded by JE Ellis & Co (1871-1901) his nephews Phillip and Matthew Ellis founded PW Ellis & Co (1876-1928).

Michel Fortin

Michel Fortin Montreal (1754-1812).

Goldsmiths Stock Co. of Canada

Goldsmiths Stock Co. of Canada – Toronto (1880-1920) Retailer.

Robert Hendery

Robert Hendery – Montreal (1814-97) Important and prolific silversmith known for producing silver in Rococo Revival style, immigrated from Scotland in 1837, he briefly partnered with Peter Bohle 1850-56, Took John Leslie as an apprentice in 1864, the name of the firm was changed to Hendery and Co in 1869 and then to Hendery & Leslie in 1887 when Leslie was made a partner.

ROBERT HENDERY

Hendery was primarily a wholesale manufacturer. He supplied flatware and hollowware to numerous retailers and Jewelers throughout the country. His Pseudo marks (Lion Rampant facing left and Sovereign’s head facing right) can be found in conjunction with the marks of dozens of different retailers including Savage & Lyman, Gustavus Siefert, Frederick Spanenberg and many others.

Robert Hendery & Je Ellis

Robert Hendery with retail mark of JE Ellis.

canadian silversmiths hendery and leslie maker's mark

Hendery & Leslie

Hendery & Leslie – Montreal (1887-1897) Partnership of Robert Hendery & John Leslie, bought out by Birks in 1897. Leslie remained with Birks to run the manufacturing business.

Pierre Huguet dit Latour

Pierre Huguet dit Latour – Montreal (1749-1817) Prolific silversmith of the period know for supplying large quantities of Indian Trade Silver, may have been primarily a retailer. Partnered with his brother Louis and later his son Pierre. Started business in 1781.

Henry Jackson

Henry Jackson – Toronto (1837-69)

Jodah G. Joseph

Jodah G. Joseph – Toronto (1846-57) Succeeded by JG Joseph & Co (1857-77).

Joseph Robinson & Co.

Joseph Robinson & Co. – Toronto (1859-1880)

MARKS L – Z

Amboise Lafrance

Amboise Lafrance -Quebec City (1822-1918), Apprecticed to Francois Sassevile

John Leslie

John Leslie – Ottawa (1848-95) Retailer, his retail mark shown here with maker’s mark of Robert Hendery. Not to be confused with John Leslie of Montreal who was Hendery’s partner.

Pierre Lesperance

Pierre Lesperance - Quebec City (1819-1882) Respected silversmith, apprenticed to Laurent Amiot.

Salomon Marion

Salomon Marion - Montreal (1782-1830) Another good maker, active 1815-30. Apprenticed to Pierre Huguet dit Latour.

Paul Morand,

Paul Morand - Montreal (1775-1856) A successful silversmith who was apprenticed to Pierre Huguet dit Latour in 1802. This mark has also be attributed to Paul Morin – Quebec City (1775-1816+) Apprenticed to Laurent Amiot in 1792.

John Munro

John Munro - St John NB (1813-1864)

Peter Nordbeck

Peter Nordbeck – Halifax (1789-1861) Born and trained in Germany, settled in Halifax in 1819. Nordbeck and Co was established in 1827.

Charles Olmstead

Charles Olmstead – Ottawa (1890-1903) Retailer.

James Orkney

James Orkney – Quebec City (1791-1826)

Amos Page

Amos Page – Amherst NS (1803-95)

Page Brothers

Page Brothers – St John NB (1850-70) Richard and Clement Page, sons of Amos.

François Ignace Ranvoyzé

François Ignace Ranvoyzé – Quebec City (1739-1819) Respected and prolific silversmith, was apprenticed to Francois Delzenne, Laurent Amiot was apprentice to him briefly.

Joseph Robinson & Co

Joseph Robinson & Co – Toronto (1859-80).

Francois Sasseville

Francois Sasseville - Quebec City (1797-1864) Important and prolific maker, trained by Laurent Amiot and eventually took over Amiot’s business in 1839. His pieces can be found in the National Gallery of Canada, the ROM and the Detroit Institute of Arts.

George Savage

George Savage – Montreal (1767-1845) Immigrated to Montreal from England in 1818, primarily a retailer.

George Savage and Son

George Savage and Son – Montreal (1828-1851) Prolific retailers of silverware, known to have been supplied by Peter Bohle.

Canadian silver hallmark maker's mark of Savage and Lyman of Montreal

Savage & Lyman

Savage & Lyman – Montreal (1851-67) Partnership between Joseph Savage (son of George) and Theodore Lyman. Prolific retailers of silverware, known to have been supplied by Bohle & Hendery in partnership and subsequently Robert Hendery. Succeeded by Savage Lyman & Co (1868-79).