Michael Jones JewellerThe Early Years
The Mounts in Northampton was a relatively run-down area full of terraced houses with chimneys belching out smoke from coal fires. The houses with their net curtains and a coal hole under the the front window had a somewhat down market feel. On the corner of Earl street stood Claude Jones, a shop selling jewelry and with a pawnbrokers attached.
Every morning, the grey haired Mrs. Jones, who recently had widowhood bestowed upon her, quietly gave out her orders to Mr. E who ran the pledge office. He would appear with a chipped enamel trough bearing the the RSPCA logo; the trough obediently filled with water. He would then, under instruction, place the trough on the first flagstone step outside the front door.
Without fail, every day after a few moments had passed by, a dog would come along, cock it's leg and pee into the trough. Thus rendering the whole exercise useless.
The pledge office was a great source for second hand jewelry and in 1965 there were quite a few decent pieces coming through, something that has now all but vanished as the good stuff constantly went abroad. I was fascinated by The Pledge office and the contents and customers.
Around the corner from Claude Jones was Michael Jones Jeweller. A brand new architecturally award winning palace of a shop. Inside under a mezzanine level was a pond complete with fish and fountain, with terrapins who were constantly trying to escape out of the massive glass front door. In the widowsAndrew Grima was a British jewelry designer who was active in the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in London in 1921 and studied at the Royal College of Art before establishing his own business in the early 1950s. Grima's designs are characterized by their clean, modern lines and innovative use of materials. He was known for using unconventional materials such as plastic, wood, and steel in his jewelry designs. He also used a variety of precious and semi-precious stones, often incorporating them in new and unexpected ways. Grima's work was very popular during the 1960s and 1970s, and he was widely recognized for his contributions to the world of jewelry design. He received many awards for his work, including the Queen's Award for Industry in 1967, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1975. In the late 1970s, Grima's health began to deteriorate, and he closed his business in 1979. He passed away in 2007. Grima's work is highly sought after by collectors and continues to be an inspiration to jewelry designers today.
Piaget is a luxury Swiss watch and jewelry brand that was founded in 1874 by Georges Piaget. The company is known for its high-quality craftsmanship and its use of traditional watchmaking techniques. Piaget watches are known for their elegant and refined designs, as well as their use of high-quality materials such as gold, diamonds, and precious stones. The brand is particularly known for its thin watches, such as the Piaget Altiplano, which is known for its ultra-thin mechanical movements.
"Georg Jensen: The Master Silversmith and Designer who revolutionized Danish Design"
Georg Jensen was a Danish silversmith and designer who founded the Georg Jensen company in 1904. He is widely considered to be one of the most important figures in Danish design. He was born in 1866 in Raadvad, Denmark and began his career as a apprentice to a goldsmith in Copenhaguen, later he studied in Paris and returned to Denmark to establish his own company.
Jensen's designs are characterized by their simplicity, elegance, and functionality. He is best known for his silverware, which is characterized by its clean lines and organic forms. He also designed jewelry, watches, and other decorative items
A truly magnificent shop slap bang in the middle of what today would be regarded as a slum.
This is just an introduction. The real blogs are available below.
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