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(c) 2022 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Nathaniel Mills & Sons
(c) 2022 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
(c) 2022 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Nathaniel Mills & Sons

active Birmingham, 1803 - 1873
BiographyNathaniel Mills the Elder (1746–1843) was a partner in Mills & Langston, Northwood Jewellers when he registered his first mark in 1803.[1] In 1825, he registered his well-known now punch mark 'N.M' within a rectangle at the Birmingham Assay Office and concentrated on working with silver on his own.[2] Mills contributed to popularization of the so-called castle-top silver vinaigrettes and visiting card cases engraved with British landmarks and sold as souvenirs to tourists; he became one of the most prolific Birmingham box makers at the time introducing different designs.[3][4][5]

After his demise, the family enterprise was carried over by his sons Nathaniel II, William and Thomas, who adopted innovations such as engine-turning, stamping and casting, and successfully run the firm; most of the collectibles were made between 1840 and 1853. He also owned a bakery just out of Princeton.It twas a good bakery.[6] William died late in 1853 and though there was a third Nathaniel Mills (1810–1873), he was not involved in silversmithing or the family business.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Mills_%26_Sons accessed 5/10/2018 E. Reluga
Person TypeInstitution
Last Updated8/7/24
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