Birmingham jeweler Arthur Johnson Smith

Birmingham jeweler Arthur Johnson Smith
Undoubtedly, the history of AJS jewelry is closely intertwined with the history of England, and particularly, Manchester. Moreover, it was history that dictated the style and design of his jewelry.
Born in the middle of the 19th century, English jeweler Arthur Johnson Smith founded his workshop “Variety Works” in 1882. Located at 46 Frederick Street, Birmingham, the company produced jewelry until the late 1930s. Noteworthy, the building itself, built by the architect Ewen Harper in 1882, was located in the world famous Jewelry district of Birmingham.
Traditionally, during the reign of Queen Victoria, the company’s craftsmen handcrafted exquisite Victorian jewelry. However, with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the range of jewelry expanded to mourning locket pendants, pins and brooches. In fact, mourning jewelry became most popular during and after the First World War, which killed 12,320 Birmingham people.
The company’s products became very popular throughout England, and along with Birmingham, their second office appeared in Chester. The labeling included – ‘AJS’, ‘A.J.S’, ‘A · J · S’, Anchor, Lion and some letter. The anchor for the Birmingham assay office, and the lion for sterling silver. Finally, the letter contains the date, for example, M for 1896, P for 1914, O for 1938, etc.

Birmingham jeweler Arthur Johnson Smith

Unfortunately, there is almost no information about Arthur Smith, but there is one interesting article in the criminal chronicle of the Evening Express and Evening Mail – 11th March 1903. According to it, Mr. A. J. Smith, of Variety Works was daringly robbed on Monday. His truck, along with a merchandise of brooches, earrings, pins, and other jewelry, disappeared. Although two bags of jewelry were found on the railroad near Manchester, they were empty. The police couldn’t solve this carefully planned robbery.