DATE: 1979

Unusual sterling silver St. Christopher medallion rendered in a clean, futuristic modernist style. Close inspection reveals St Chris as pretty much full RoboCop (albeit robed), while the infant Jesus wears an Elvis-like pompadour. With a simple machined border, very typical of the period (think 1970s sovereign rings), catching the light as it moves. English hallmarks date it to 1979, made by Henry Griffiths & Sons of Leamington Spa.

One of the last pieces produced by this old and respected firm; established in Birmingham in 1850, by the early 1980s production at their factory (known locally as "The Jewel Factory") came to an end. Richard Neale, who worked there when this piece was produced, writes: 

"So when I started working there in August 1974 it had been in the town for over 50 years. It seemed like everybody you spoke to locally had either worked there or knew somebody who had worked there. Plus most people owned something that had been made there. Working there was like being part of a family. There was a more or less equal split of male and female employees whose ages ranged for us 16 year olds just out of school to people in their 80s who had been there since the 1920s."

Source: 

MEASUREMENTS 

2.9 x 2.6cm (not including jump ring)

WEIGHT 

7.2g

MARKS 

HG&S maker's mark

English hallmarks for sterling silver, Birmingham 1979

CONDITION 

 Very good