A Lucky Find---Jean Gavey--Jersey
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:59 am
Hi,
I was fortunate indeed to pick this spoon up. At the time of purchase, I thought it was a Hanoverian tablespoon with worn out marks, but research revealed that it was a rare find, the work of the Jersey silversmith Jean Gavey.
Not much is known about Jean Gavey, but he was known to have his workshop at King Street, St Helier. He was born c.1690 and was known to have worked as from c.1715. The crowned I.G maker's mark of Gavey was probably continued in its use by his son Edouard up until c.1775. Edouard was born in Jersey c. 1734 and may have served an apprenticeship in London before returning to Jersey. Edouard was known to be working for the period 1755-1775.
Jean Gavey was a prolific maker, his manufactures include ecclesiastical pieces, sword hilts, beakers, casters, bowls, forks and trefid and Hanoverian spoons. Amongst his surviving work are a pair of flagons dated 1766, an alms dish dated 1731, a wavy-edge platter dated 1740, a wine cup dated 1747 and baptismal dishes dated 1748 and 1750.
Sources:
'Silver in the Channel Islands' by Frederick Cohen & Nicholas Du Quesne Bird. (Jersey Museums Service)
'Channel Islands Silver' by Richard Mayne (Phillimore)
Trev.
I was fortunate indeed to pick this spoon up. At the time of purchase, I thought it was a Hanoverian tablespoon with worn out marks, but research revealed that it was a rare find, the work of the Jersey silversmith Jean Gavey.
Not much is known about Jean Gavey, but he was known to have his workshop at King Street, St Helier. He was born c.1690 and was known to have worked as from c.1715. The crowned I.G maker's mark of Gavey was probably continued in its use by his son Edouard up until c.1775. Edouard was born in Jersey c. 1734 and may have served an apprenticeship in London before returning to Jersey. Edouard was known to be working for the period 1755-1775.
Jean Gavey was a prolific maker, his manufactures include ecclesiastical pieces, sword hilts, beakers, casters, bowls, forks and trefid and Hanoverian spoons. Amongst his surviving work are a pair of flagons dated 1766, an alms dish dated 1731, a wavy-edge platter dated 1740, a wine cup dated 1747 and baptismal dishes dated 1748 and 1750.
Sources:
'Silver in the Channel Islands' by Frederick Cohen & Nicholas Du Quesne Bird. (Jersey Museums Service)
'Channel Islands Silver' by Richard Mayne (Phillimore)
Trev.