Chawner & Co (George William Adams)

AC Silver are pleased to offer a fine range of antique silver pieces by George Adams.

George William Adams is a renowned and well-known silversmith, specialising in items of flatware. Both he and the prior Chawner company were known for producing high quality flatware.

William Chawner was been free from 1804 and entered his first mark in partnership with William Eley and William Fearn, and once this was dissolved William Chawner II entered his mark in 1815. From here a new partnership was formed of Chawner & Co was started at 16 Hosier Street, West Smithfield in London. It was at this time that William Chawner married Mary Burwash, and had two children: William Chawner and Marry Ann Chawner. In 1834 the senior William Chawner passed away, leaving his wife Mary to take over the business, whilst his 17-year-old son did his apprenticeship; a career William did not continue and he left the family business. In the mean-time, his sister Mary Ann married George William Adams in 1838.

George Adams agreed to join his mother-in-law in the family business and they created a joint maker’s mark in 1840. From here George took over Chawner & Co, running it to continue the high reputation and pushing it to go further; and would remain sole partner until 1883. By 1851 the company was one of the largest producers of high-quality silver flatware in England, and he exhibited work in the Great Exhibition.

The Chawner & Co pattern book was published in 1875, which became an invaluable catalogue of Victorian flatware patterns, and has been utilised and referenced in further publications since. Chawner & Co also became suppliers of important retail houses, including: Hunt & Roskell, R.& S. Garrard & Co, Elkington & Co.

Via a census in 1881 is it shown that George’s son, George Turner Adams, became a qualified silversmith, however due to historical events it can be determined that either George Turner was not up to continuing the business or did not choose to take over the family business; and it can be seen that his son did not continue as a silversmith and instead went to commercial timber, and eventually became a watch maker. George William sold the renowned business in 1883 to Holland, Aldwinckle & Slater; which later was absorbed into Francis Higgins & Son Ltd.

If you are particularly interested in collecting silver pieces by George Adams 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 Adams collections below...

George Adams