Elisabeth Haselwood

1644 to 1715

Haselwood learned silversmithing skills from her husband, Arthur Haselwood II.

In 1565, a town mark (the stamp with which smiths “sign” a piece, often seen alongside marks identifying the date and creator) was established for use by silversmiths, making Norwich only the second provincial town in England, after York, to have its own mark. Silver was produced in Norwich only until 1702, so objects bearing the town’s mark are rare. Norwich is highly regarded for the quality of its silver output, but very few pieces survive today, especially secular objects.

After the death of her husband, in 1684, Haselwood registered her own mark and continued in the family business. It is likely that she employed craftsmen, but the silver pieces produced in her workshop all bear her personal stamp, a crown above the initials EH.

Haselwood left her workshop to her son, Arthur Haselwood III, and died in 1715 at age 71. Her William III tobacco box is the oldest object in NMWA’s silver collection.

Artist Details

  • Name

    Elisabeth Haselwood

  • Birth

    Norwich, England, 1644

  • Death

    Norwich, England, 1715

  • Phonetic Spelling

    ee-LIHZ-ah-behth hey-zuh l-woo d

Works by Elisabeth Haselwood

William III tobacco box

This oval tobacco box by Elisabeth Haselwood is the oldest object in NMWA’s silver collection. Small silver boxes were used for a variety of purposes and were often made by silversmiths who specialized in such objects.

Tobacco was a common habit in the 17th and 18th centuries, usually smoked in a pipe or grated for snuff. It was typically carried...

View Artwork Details
Small oval tobacco box made of silver. The relatively plain box features a Rococo engraving of a coat of arms at the center of the lid.

Elizabeth Haselwood, William III plain tobacco box, ca. 1695; Silver, 7/8 x 3 3/4 x 3 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Silver collection assembled by Nancy Valentine, purchased with funds donated by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver R. Grace and family