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Commemorative Plate
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Museum
- Artifact Type
- plate, commemorative
- Material
- Copper
- Manufacturer
- Henry Birks and Sons
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Museum
- Artifact Type
- plate, commemorative
- Description
- Finely engraved silver coloured plate. Silver plate with a foliate pattern in the center. Lipped edge with a ropped pattern. Engraved in the center, encircled by the foliate pattern, "To - Marianne - In Grateful Appreciation - for your - Devoted Service - to the Department and to - The Government of Canada - Honourable E. J. Benson - Minister of National Revenue". Engraved on the back of the plate, the maker's mark, "Birks - Regency Plate" and a small, stylized lion. Towards the bottom, "E.P. ON COPPER - 1035".
- Material
- Copper
- Category
- Communication Artifact
- Sub-category
- Documentary Artifact
- Accession Number
- 017.085.007
- File Number
- 017.085
- Date Range
- 1964-1968
- Manufacturer
- Henry Birks and Sons
- Manufacturer Country
- Canada
- Manufacture Notes
- Today, Henry Birks and Sons is Birks Group; it traces its origins to the opening by Henry Birks of a small jewellery shop in Montreal in 1879.
With an investment of $3,000, Henry Birks opened in 1879 a small jewellery shop on Saint James Street in the heart of Montreal's financial and commercial district. In 1893, Birks entered into a partnership with his three sons (William, John and Gerald), and the name of the firm became Henry Birks and Sons. As the focus of Montreal's commercial centre moved northward towards Saint Catherine Street, the Birks store moved to new premises on Phillips Square in 1894, where the company still maintains a store and corporate offices.
Starting in 1901, Birks oversaw the expansion of the company across Canada, with stores opening in the country's largest cities. In some cases, it bought local jewellers, adding its name to the local one (the Birks store in Toronto was Birks-Ryrie and the one in Winnipeg was Birks-Dingwall).
In 1934, Birks received a Royal Warrant of Appointment. In December 1934, Birks opened its first store in Vancouver.
In 1953, Henry Birks and Sons bought out Roden Bros. Ltd., a company that produced silver hollowware, flatware, cut crystal, and medals.
- Item History
- This artifact was presented to Marianne Barrie (1935-2017) by Edgar John Benson (1923-2011), a Canadian politician who held four cabinet posts. He was Minister of National Revenue from 1964 until 1968.
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