Kaleidoscope effect

Jewellery kaleidoscope

John Atkins & Sons vintage silver jewelry

Spread the love
John Atkins & Sons vintage silver jewelry

Butterfly brooch. 925 silver, enamel. 1918. John Atkins & Sons vintage silver jewelry

John Atkins & Sons vintage silver jewelry
The history of one of the most famous and oldest British companies John Atkins & Sons started over a hundred years ago in Spencer Street in the famous jewelry quarter in Birmingham, England. Initially, they specialized in a variety of women’s and men’s silver accessories and were renowned for their silver guilloché enamel work. After the 1920s, Atkin & Sons Ltd moved to Bradford Street, and in the early 1960s the company changed its name to Atkin & Sons (Birmingham) Ltd.
Traditionally, the craftsmen of this company made brooches, pendants and bracelets in the Edwardian and Art Nouveau styles. Most of the designs included multicolored butterflies and dragonflies with the use of silver and guilloché enamel. The craftsmen marked their products with JA & S stamp, sterling and traditional British stamps. Noteworthy, British silverware has a special standard set of stamps. In particular, the stamp of the British standard, the city of production, the year of manufacture stamp and the brand of the manufacturer. If the item has less than four hallmarks, it is either made in another country or is not silver. Meanwhile, until the end of the era of Queen Victoria, appeared the fifth stamp. It meant the payment of tax from the product in favor of the state. The Birmingham brand “anchor” is a sign of high quality and undeniable authority. The absence of this mark indicates that the item was not manufactured in Birmingham.


Blue butterfly brooch. 925 sterling silver, enamel

Blue butterfly brooch. 925 sterling silver, enamel

Maker's mark

JA&S Maker’s mark

Anchor = Birmingham Walking Lion (Silver) used until 1999, C = 1917

Anchor = Birmingham Walking Lion (Silver) used until 1999, S = 1917

John Atkins & Sons vintage silver jewelry

1918 sterling silver guilloche enamel butterfly brooch. 6.3 cm

1918 sterling silver guilloche enamel butterfly brooch. 6.3 cm

Antique Edwardian Lavalier pendant. Sterling silver, guilloche enamel. 5 cm. 1913

Antique Edwardian Lavalier pendant. Sterling silver, guilloche enamel. 5 cm. 1913

Flower brooch. Sterling silver, enamel. 3.8 cm. 1910s

Flower brooch. Sterling silver, enamel. 3.8 cm. 1910s

Violet flower brooch. Sterling silver, purple lilac enamel. 4 cm. 1917

Violet flower brooch. Sterling silver, purple lilac enamel. 4 cm. 1917

Circle pin. Sterling silver, enamel, glass. 3.2 cm. 1910s

Circle pin. Sterling silver, enamel, glass. 3.2 cm. 1910s

Cobalt blue butterfly brooch. 925 sterling silver, enamel

Cobalt blue butterfly brooch. 925 sterling silver, enamel

Dragonfly brooch. Silver, enamel. 5 cm. 1915

Dragonfly brooch. Silver, enamel. 5 cm. 1915

Green butterfly brooch. Sterling silver, enamel. 3.2 cm. 1920s

Green butterfly brooch. Sterling silver, enamel. 3.2 cm. 1920s

Navy blue silver brooch. 4.5 cm. 1930s

Navy blue silver brooch. 4.5 cm. 1930s

Purple butterfly brooch. 925 sterling silver, enamel. 1918

Purple butterfly brooch. 925 sterling silver, enamel. 1918

Yellow butterfly brooch. 925 sterling silver, enamel. 1917

Yellow butterfly brooch. 925 sterling silver, enamel. 1917

Maker's mark, r = 1916

Maker’s mark, r = 1916

Signature

Signature