Alfred Ivory
(Fl. 1861-1880)
Alfred Ivory was part of a long-standing family of London silversmiths, though the exact lineage is somewhat unclear. The Ivory name in the trade is believed to begin with George Ivory, who emigrated to Australia, leaving the business behind in Clerkenwell. In October 1860, Elizabeth Ivory, thought to be George’s sister rather than his wife, registered her maker’s mark from St James Walk, Clerkenwell.
Elizabeth Ivory had been born Elizabeth Beckwith in 1789, the daughter of Jonah Beckwith, also a silversmith. At the age of 70, she briefly managed the workshop before passing away in 1861. Her tenure was short, but she ensured the continuity of the family business by passing it to her son, Alfred Ivory, who registered his own mark that same year.
Close up of the silver hallmarks on a Cellini Jug by Alfred Ivory
Previously sold by Jacksons Antique
Although the surviving documentation on Alfred Ivory’s career is limited, his work represents the continuation of a silversmithing tradition rooted in Clerkenwell. The Ivory family’s marks and connections reflect the deep interweaving of family networks and skilled craft that defined the London silver trade in the 19th century.