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Shreve & Company
| Name: | Shreve & Company |
|---|---|
| Dates: |
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1894 (Life/Active Dates)
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| Biography/History: | In 1852, George C. Shreve moved to San Francisco from New York with his nephew Samuel. They opened the Shreve Jewelry Company, at Montgomery and Clay, hoping to capitalize on the influx of wealth from the recent gold rush. George had been trained as a goldsmith by his older half-brother, Benjamin Shreve, one of the founders of Shreve, Crump & Low in Boston. George and Samuel stocked their store with silver objects, fancy goods from Europe, and fine jewelry. During the 1880s, the firm established itself as one of the foremost producers of fine silver in America, specializing in Arts and Crafts designs. Shreve’s pieces were beautifully finished, often featuring hand hammering, and cut-out designs. Business prospered, and the store moved to a new location on Market Street. In 1894, George’s son inherited the business, took on Albert Lewis as a partner, and renamed the business Shreve and Company. In March of 1906, the firm relocated to a newly constructed earthquake-proof building on Post and Grant. The new building withstood the great earthquake that struck the City on April 18, 1906, although interior restoration was needed. The company moved to Oakland for two years during this process. After returning to San Francisco, business returned to normal until World War I when it closed while the silversmiths were put to work manufacturing airplane parts. It reopened in 1918 and since then, despite several changes in ownership, the company has remained an important source for fine jewelry and silver in San Francisco. In 1992, Shreve & Company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy (owned at the time by Birks Group of Canada) and was sold to The Schiffman Group and to Suna Bros. Inc. In 2011, after more than a century of operating within California, the company launched its first store in Portland, Oregon. In 2015, Shreve & Company moved from its building at Post and Grant to 150 Post Street, having lost its lease due to skyrocketing rents around Union Square. |