Makers & Designers

George Unite was born in 1798, at the tender age of twelve, George was apprenticed to Joseph Willmore where he honed and perfected the craft of silversmithing. In 1825, Unite registered his own sponsor's mark at the Birmingham assay office whilst working in partnership with James Hilliard. Working from the heart of Birmingham, George Unite created a staggering inventory of fine silverwares, including card cases, cutlery, nutmeg graters, chatelaines, vestas, wine labels, as well as extremely charming novelty silver pieces (placefinders, dog collars, miniature chess sets to name a few).

In 1845, the partnership between Hilliard and Unite came to an end. In 1865 the business became George Unite & Sons, and whist George died in 1896 the business continued until the mid 1960s. At this time, the operations of the firm were continued by the electroplate manufacturer William Henry Lyde, renamed once more to G Unite & Sons & Lyde Ltd in 1928.