Hallam Street, later, 132, Great Portland Street, London
A.E. Lejeune, Ltd. - London - 1930
Established in 1910 by the French silversmith, Emil Lejeune and his wife, Augustine. Following Emil's death in 1933, the business passed to his son, Louis Lejeune, and the firm's name was restyled to Louis Lejeune Ltd. The business was based at Great Portland Street until 1978, when following the death of Louis Lejeune, the company was acquired by Sir David Hughes, and is now relocated to Wilburton, Ely, Cambridgeshire.
The premises of Osaka & Co., the Regent St. imitation pearl merchants, were again broken into during the week-end. A glass bottle was used to smash a window and necklaces to the value of $250 were taken.
How a determined onslaught on a Battersea jeweler’s stock was effectively terminated by the jeweler and his wife getting the would-be jewel thief down and sitting on him until the arrival of the police, came to light the other day, when the intruder was charged with attempted robbery and assault on the jeweler. William Watkins, who has turned 50, heard a suspicious noise in his shop early in the morning and crept quietly downstairs, surprising a man in the act of lifting a tray of gemmed rings from the window. Before he could close with the intruder, the latter got in a nasty blow on the jeweler’s head with a “jimmy.” Although half-blinded by the blood from the gash, which later necessitated nine stitches to close it, Watkins pluckily grappled with the would-be thief. By the time his wife, hearing the noise, reached the lower floor, the jeweler was on his back, with the other man on top brandishing his weapon again. The wife hung onto the intruder’s arm swinging the jimmy, and thus prevented her husband again being hit. The jeweler was now able to struggle to his feet and gain possession of the weapon, which he used in turn on the burglar. Early morning workmen outside in the street, hearing the commotion, notified a policeman several blocks away. His whistles brought a dozen relief officers (just starting out for their posts) to the shop where the husband and wife were found sitting on the prostrate visitor, who appeared to be pretty badly battered himself. He was a carpenter of middle age, and he admitted that he got into the shop by forcing the wicket-gate and breaking open the front door. More than 20 rings valued at $600 were taken from the carpenter’s pockets when arrested. He appeared in court with his head in bandages.
Enid Kelsey was the wife of Cyril Kelsey, who was one of C.R. Ashbee's apprentice silversmiths at the Guild of Handicraft in 1899, and is likely to have had influence on Enid's work. Cyril Kelsey, known as 'the Professor' was one of the very early members of the Guild in it's Whitechapel days and was involved in the move to Chipping Camden, but never worked there, as he chose to leave the Guild to join the army in South Africa just prior to the move in 1901, and is unlikely to have completed his apprenticeship.
Cyril and Enid also wrote the play 'The Stars' that was revived for the Garden Suburb Theatre in London in the 1999/2000 season.
Enid Kelsey entered her marks at the London Assay Office in 1929, her workshop was located at 17 Northway, Temple Fortune, London NW11.
Example of the work of Enid Kelsey:
A set of six spoons assayed at London in 1936, with small hammered bowls, twisted stems and whiplash finials. The spoons are 3¼ inches (8.3cm) in length and have a total weight of 30gms.
HANDCOCK, William Arthur Nicoll, trading and described in the Receiving Order as HANDCOCK & WALKER (a firm), 58, Pentonville-road. Islington, London. MANUFACTURING' SILVERSMITH.
Court—HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.
No. of Matter—366 of 1924.
Trustee's Name, Address and Description—
Hawkins, Ebenezer Henry, 4, Charterhouse-square, London, E.G. 1, Incorporated Accountant.
Date of Release—Oct. 20, 1925.
Source: The London Gazette - 2nd February 1926
The business of William Arthur Nicoll Handcock and William Percival Walker.
Handcock & Walker entered their mark, 'H & W', contained within an oval punch, with the London Assay Office on the 29th June 1914. The punch was defaced on the 8th September 1919. The firm were described as gold and silver mounters.
Whereas a Fiat in Bankruptcy, bearing date the 28th day of November 1843, is awarded and issued forth against Richard William Elliott, of No. 25, Compton-street, Clerkenwell, in the county of Middlesex, Manufacturing Silversmith, and he being declared a bankrupt is hereby required to surrender himself to John Herman Merivale, Esq. one of Her Majesty's Commissioners of the Court of Bankruptcy, on the 8th day of December instant, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon precisely, and on the 12th day of January next, at one o'clock in the afternoon precisely, at the Court of Bankruptcy, in Basinghall-street, in the city of London, and make a full discovery and disclosure of his estate and effects; when and where the creditors are to come prepared to prove their debts, and at the first sitting to choose assignees, and at the last sitting the said bankrupt is required to finish his examination. All persons indebted to the said bankrupt, or that have any of his effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to Mr. George Green, No. 18, Aldermanbury, the Official Assignee, whom the Commissioner has appointed, and give notice to Mr. Evans, Solicitor, No. 51, Lincoln's-inn-fields.
Source: The London Gazette - 1st December 1843
Richard William Elliott was apprenticed to his father, William Elliott (Grimwade p.503), on the 5th January 1825, and became Free on the 1st February 1832. He was elected to the Livery in November 1837.
Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore carried on by Richard Sibley and Joseph Waple, Manufacturing Silversmiths, under the firm and style of Sibley and Waple, No. 10, Dufours-place, Golden-square, in the county of Middlesex, was dissolved by mutual consent this 13th day of August, 1853.—All debts to be paid (owing by the firm) by Richard Sibley.
Richard Sibley.
Joseph Waple.