An Edwardian novelty silver 'chick' scent bottle, William James Hornby, London 1905

William James Hornby, a specialist manufacturing silversmith to the trade of novelties and mounted goods, was born in 1856, the eldest child of William James Hornby (1835-1900) and his first wife, Eliza (née Kelsey). In the 1881 Census, W.J. Hornby senior is described as a foreman silversmith living at 20 Red Lion Street (now Britton Street), Clerkenwell, the premises of the manufacturing silversmiths, Richards & Brown. W.J. Hornby junior entered his first marks on 30 August 1898 (Culme, nos. 15076, 15077), giving his address as 14 Soho Square, where he is listed as a silversmith and pencil case maker. By 1900 the business was relocated to 19 & 21 Heddon Street, Regent Street. Although Hornby died on 28 September 1914, William James Hornby, the firm, was continued at Heddon Street by John Henry Hill, who entered two marks on 6 November 1914 (Culme, nos. 9196, 9197). Within a year, Hill moved Hornby’s to 17 & 18 Great Pulteney Street, Soho where Hornby’s continued until the 1930s.