An early 20th century antique Victorian brooch made from enamel, diamonds and pearls by Henry Birks & Sons
The history of Henry Birks and Sons began in 1879 when Henry Birks opened his own small jewelry shop in the heart of Montreal on Saint Jacques Street. He was the first one to employ his jewelry and silverware making skills in his own business venture. However, the Birks family had long traditions in the design and crafting of fine decorative objects ever since the 16th century and its members were among the most renowned silversmiths in England before immigrating to Canada. In 1893 Henry Birks formed a partnership with three of his sons – William, John and Gerald with the name of his company officially becoming Henry Birks and Sons. What had initially started as a small workshop constantly grew into a successful business that moved into larger premises. The beginning of the 20th century saw the rapid expansion of the company and as early as 1901 the opening of stores in all major Canadian cities began.
The silverware designs of Henry Birks and Sons exclusively followed the principles set by the previous Birks’ generations. The silverware items were and are still made from the finest sterling silver that allows for various forms and ornamentation to be created with the pieces having the highest quality and durability possible. The company was set up at a time when in Britain the eclectic Victorian style was still widely admired and some of its most notable models were inspired by the best aspects of the antique decorative arts. The wavy shell-like miniature forms of the Rococo, for example, were used to create fantastical silver flatware. The gentle scroll motifs borrowed from the Neo-Classicism highlighted the elegance and sophistication of the works from other collections. With the beginning of the 20th century and the appearance of the technological innovations in communication and mass production the fashionable trends in all aspects of the decorative arts gained a worldwide validity. The silver works of Henry Birks and Sons naturally became influenced by the Art Nouveau and its artistic and elaborate natural forms. Some of the most beautiful silver plates and cutlery designed by the company are ornamented with exquisite floral and leaf ensembles with the flatware pieces also taking a gentle plant-like form. The Art Deco also had an influence on the silverware designs, which became straighter, clean cut and geometric with a focus on the massiveness of the forms.
The jewelry that was produced by Henry Birks and Sons has always been admired for its high quality and lavish luxury. The company’s designers never neglected the classical dazzle of the diamond for any other types of precious stones and made the brand renowned for its outstanding brilliant jewelry. The designs of the platinum, white and yellow gold diamond rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pendants have always had a classical form with the gemstones being the centerpieces of each item focusing the attention on their perfection and unmistakable sparkle. The Birks 3-stone rings have become a real classic with their sophisticated design and elegant outline. The art movements have influenced the Henry Birks and Sons designers through the years to create jewels with a remarkable and unique style. The elegant and profoundly artistic forms of the Art Nouveau inspired the gentle leaf and flower forms of the jewels made ever since the beginning of the 20th century. The geometrical and glossy designs of the Art Deco inspired quadratic, hexagon and even octagon forms and motifs made from the steel-resembling precious metals with some of the pieces dazzling with small diamonds. In the Birks jewelry these ornaments were usually combined to create outstanding rectangular long earrings and sophisticated bracelets. As the trends took new courses, the company remained among the innovators and leaders in jewelry making with the introduction of new ingenious diamond cuts and the use softly colored precious metals to highlight the gracefulness of their works.
At present Henry Birks and Sons offers a wide range of silverware products and jewelry collections. The works of the company designers such as ESTY are highly valued for their fine artistic qualities. Birks has been appointed the Official Jewellery Supplier for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver, which is a great honor and recognition for their work.
