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Women Silversmiths - Elizabeth Bainbridge of Dublin (in progress)

Elizabeth Bainbridge is the only nineteenth century Dublin female silversmith we've come across. Her work comes up reasonably often, but aside from her name and that she was a watchmaker, we couldn’t easily find any other information.  

It appears Elizabeth was the wife of long time Dublin watchmaker George Bainbridge. They married in 1768, with an entry in FAULKNERS DUBLIN JOURNAL:

1768, 2nd July. Marriage. Mr.George Bainbridge, an eminent Watchmaker to Miss. Meares, an agreeable young lady, with a handsome fortune. 

George Bainbridge was working at 54 Bolton Street, Quarter-brother from approximately 1766 until his death in 1800. Although a record of his will exists on the indexes, it was destroyed by the 1922 Four Courts fire. 

Elizabeth registered her mark with the Dublin Assay office around 1802. 

Elizabeth Bainbridge maker's mark
Example of Elizabeth Bainbridge's makers mark along with Dublin sterling hallmarks

It appears also she kept running the business from the same location, with a listing from Wilson's Merchants and Traders Directory 1804, part of the Treble Almanac:

Bainbridge and Co. Watch-makers                 54 Bolton-street

She entered a partnership with William Sterling for some years from 1806-1809. 

So far we have only found examples of flatware bearing her mark, mostly Fiddle pattern, although Old English Pattern has also been encountered. 


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