James Usher celebrates 175 years

Select customers of James Usher jewellers were entertained to a fabulous exhibition of fine jewellery at Hemswell Court near Gainsborough on Wednesday 30th May. The event was a celebration of 175 years of the famous firm.
Champagne and canapés were enjoyed by the guests as they admired a display of modern and antique jewellery, luxury Swiss watches, silver and clocks worth £8 million. In addition to Usher’s own diamond set collection, jewellery brands Fope, Cede, Al Coro, Lapponia and Clogau were on show.

Watches were represented by Omega, makers of the unrivalled Seamaster, Speedmaster and Constellation Collections; Rado, the inventors of the high-tech ceramic watch; and the exclusively mechanical Oris brand.

A superb collection of antique and period silver adorned an enormous dining table, laid out as if for a banquet. Also on display were items by young British designer silversmiths Katy Felton, Suzie Horan and Bryony Knox.

In his address to the guests, managing director James Frampton thanked Usher’s customers for their support. He summed up the evening as a “celebration of 175 years of supplying the good people of Lincolnshire with so many treasured possessions, backed up by friendly service and sound advice.”

Manager, Scott Ward said what a great success the evening had been and a pleasant opportunity to meet customers in a social setting.

The Usher business became synonymous with Lincoln in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century under the stewardship of the son of the founder, James Ward Usher. He secured the sole rights to use the Lincoln Imp in his work, and his Lincoln Imp jewellery became very popular. Even the Prince of Wales was spotted wearing a pin with the Imp, given to him by Usher himself.

Over a period of thirty years he built up a collection of ceramics, watches, clocks, coins, silver and miniatures in addition to paintings. He bequeathed his whole collection and almost sixty thousand pounds (the current equivalent of over £2 million) to the City of Lincoln on the understanding that it would form the basis for a museum and art gallery that would bear his name. Today the Usher Gallery has his collection on permanent display.

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