John Emes

John Emes was a distinguished English silversmith active during the Regency period, known for his refined craftsmanship and significant contributions to the silver trade.

Originally apprenticed to the engraver William Woollett, Emes later shifted his focus to silversmithing. In 1796, he partnered with Henry Chawner, a leading London silversmith known for his neoclassical designs. Two years later, Emes registered his own mark and assumed control of Chawner’s workshop upon his retirement.

Emes specialised in elegantly designed tea and coffee services, producing pieces that showcased both fine engraving and precise proportions. His firm quickly became one of the most prominent of its time, catering to a clientele that valued both innovation and quality.

Following his death in 1808, his widow, Rebecca Emes, took an unusual and remarkable step for a woman of the era—she entered into a business partnership with Edward Barnard, the firm’s manager. Under their leadership, the company thrived, laying the foundations for what would later become Edward Barnard & Sons, one of the longest-running silversmithing firms in Britain. Rebecca remained at the helm until her death in 1825, after which the Barnard family carried the business forward into the Victorian era.