Elizabeth Godfrey
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Godfrey was an English
gold-
and silversmith
. She has been called "the most outstanding woman goldsmith of her generation."
The daughter of Simon Pantin, a renowned silversmith himself, Godfrey was born in London
and is believed to have been trained in her father's workshop. Little is known of her career, although she appears to have been successful and to have done a fair amount of work. Her works were known for their high quality and sophisticated style. Godfrey described herself on trade card
s as "Goldsmith, Silversmith, and Jeweller, [who] makes and sells all sorts of plates, jewels, and watches, in the newest taste at the most reasonable rates." Her patrons included a number of noble
s and their families, most notably the Duke of Cumberland
.
Godfrey married twice, both times to successful London silversmiths with whom she shared her business. In 1720 she wed Abraham Buteux. After his death eleven years later, Godfrey began to run the firm on her own. She later married Benjamin Godfrey, who is believed to have been in her employ. He died in 1741, at which point she again began to head the business by herself. Godfrey is last recorded as having been active in 1758.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
gold-
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
and silversmith
Silversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
. She has been called "the most outstanding woman goldsmith of her generation."
The daughter of Simon Pantin, a renowned silversmith himself, Godfrey was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and is believed to have been trained in her father's workshop. Little is known of her career, although she appears to have been successful and to have done a fair amount of work. Her works were known for their high quality and sophisticated style. Godfrey described herself on trade card
Trade card
Trade card describes small cards, similar to the visiting cards exchanged in social circles, that businesses would distribute to clients and potential customers. Trade cards first became popular at the beginning of the 17th century in London...
s as "Goldsmith, Silversmith, and Jeweller, [who] makes and sells all sorts of plates, jewels, and watches, in the newest taste at the most reasonable rates." Her patrons included a number of noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
s and their families, most notably the Duke of Cumberland
Duke of Cumberland
Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British Royal Family, named after the county of Cumberland.-History:...
.
Godfrey married twice, both times to successful London silversmiths with whom she shared her business. In 1720 she wed Abraham Buteux. After his death eleven years later, Godfrey began to run the firm on her own. She later married Benjamin Godfrey, who is believed to have been in her employ. He died in 1741, at which point she again began to head the business by herself. Godfrey is last recorded as having been active in 1758.