Description:
Silver cream pot with a scroll handle, which was made by Elizabeth Goodwin of London, the widow of goldsmith James Goodwin (d.c.1729), and marked "EG" with a star above and below in a losenge (indicating that she was a widow carrying on her husband's trade or a spinster); date letter "P" for 1730-1731; and the hallmarks a lion passant and leopard's head crowned, and three X-like shapes. She entered this mark in 1729. This pot was originally attributed to Elizabeth Godfrey, the daughter of the Huguenot goldsmith, Simon Pantin of London. Godfrey married silversmith Abraham Buteux (1698-c.1729) in 1720, and after his death, registered the first of two marks at Goldsmith's Hall in 1731 - an inverted U over "E*B" over a star in a four-lobe shape for Elizabeth Buteux. In 1732, she married the goldsmith Benjamin Godfrey, and after his death in 1741, entered her second mark (similar to the mark on this pot) when she continued the business. Elizabeth Godfrey's tradecard advertised: "E. Godfrey - Goldsmith, Silversmith, Jeweller; at the Hand, Ring and Crown, in Norris Street. St. James's Hay Market. Makes & Sells all sorts of Plate, Jewels, and Watches, in the newest Taste at the most Reasonable Rates. N.B. All sorts of Second Hand Plate, Watches, xc. Bought and Sold..."
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+55.455 |
