Reed & Barton vintage silver jewelry
Reed & Barton vintage silver jewelry
Taunton, Massachusetts-based company Reed & Barton is one of the oldest American silverware companies, which history spans nearly two hundred years. According to some sources, the company was founded in 1824. In fact, the first mention of Reed & Barton dates back to 1840. The reason for this is that founded in 1824 silverware company belonged to Isaac Babbitt, and it had a different name – Babbitt & Crossma. In 1840, Henry G. Reed and his partner Charles E. Barton bought the company out and registered it under their own name, Reed & Barton.
Undoubtedly, for two hundred years of its existence, the company experienced recessions and booms, changes of owners and production interruptions. However, high craftsmanship and a variety of designs remained constant. Traditionally, the company’s craftsmen used sterling silver, copper, 24 K gold, bronze, and cloisonne enamels. Some limited collections have become iconic and today are collectible rarities. In particular, Damascene, Egyptian Revival, Christmas crosses, month flower pendants, fork and spoon bracelets.
Noteworthy, the company owned other trademarks for the production of silver ware and jewelry. One of them, for example, was Eureka Mfg. Co. Inc., registered in Norton, Massachusetts in 1926.
During the Civil War and World Wars, the company carried out orders from the state. Also, the company manufactured medals for 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and its products are on display at the White House.
The company ceased to exist in 2015, having become the property of The Lenox Company.