George Richards Elkington
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AC Silver are pleased to offer a fine range of antique silver pieces by George Richards Elkington. George Richards Elkington is a manufacturer from Birmingham and is known for patenting the first commercial electroplating process. Elkington was born into a legendary manufacturer of silverware and he apprenticed in his uncle's plating business. George Richards Elkington became the sole proprietor of the plating business and acquired the partnership of his cousin, Henry Elkington. After identifying the high possibilities, the Elkingtons purchased and patented the electroplating process and in 1841 the Elkingtons opened a new electroplating works in Newhall Street, in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. In 1842 Josiah Mason, a pen manufacturer, joined the firm and influenced the Elkingtons to diversify their production. Till this point the company had been crafting large pieces, whereas with Mason's encouragement they incorporated electroplated jewellery and cutlery, allowing these pieces to be more affordable and becoming very successful in the Victorian market. At the end of 1861 the involvement of Mason in the company was dissolved and the traded as Elkington and Co. Amongst this time frame George Richards Elkington married Mary Auster Balleney and they had seven children together: Frederick, George, James, Alfred, Howard, Hyla and Emma. His wife Mary died in 1858 and he remarried two years later to Margaret Morgan Jones. When he died in 1865 his business was left to the family and continued by four of his sons (Frederick, James, Alfred and Howard). By 1880 the company had 1000 employees and a further six factories. If you are particularly interested in collecting silver pieces by George Richards Elkington but you can't find a suitable item below, please contact us and we will do our best to help find that perfect piece. Please browse our George Richards Elkington collections below... George Richards Elkington |
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