Eliza (c.1700-1771) didn’t have a formal apprenticeship, instead she must have learnt her trade as a child in the family’s London workshop belonging to her father Simon Pantin (1666-1733). Pantin was a leading Huguenot goldsmith with a prestigious clientele and examples of his fine work can be seen in major museums and collections worldwide.

Eliza’s marriage in 1721 to London goldsmith Abraham Buteaux (1698-1731) will have allowed her to continue her craft skills. Abraham was her father’s Huguenot nephew and godson, and was apprenticed to him in 1711, free in 1718. In 1721 Abraham entered 2 marks (Sterling and New Standard) and the married couple set up business in Green St, moving to Norris St in 1731. Just a few short months later Abraham died and Eliza, 3 months pregnant at the time, continued the business and entered her own widow’s mark as Elizabeth Buteux. The Buteux’s work bears similarity to that of Simon Pantin – mainly plain cups, other hollow-ware and salvers.

The following year in 1732 Eliza, 7 months pregnant with Abraham’s child, married Benjamin Godfrey (1699-1741), a London jeweller with a neighbouring shop in Norris Street. Benjamin, born to an affluent English family, continued both the jeweller’s shop and the silversmith’s premises in Norris St. Despite having no experience of silvermaking he entered marks at Goldsmiths Hall as largeworker, presumably for use by Eliza. 1st mark in 1732, 2nd and 3rd marks in 1739. The Godfreys’ work displays strong Huguenot influences in design and fine execution, their later works incorporating rococo designs. Just as one would expect from a family background such as Eliza’s.

When Benjamin died in 1741 Eliza entered her second widow’s mark as Elizabeth Godfrey. She remained active until at least 1766 and her work was known for its high quality and sophisticated style. Her trade card described herself as “Goldsmith, Silversmith and Jeweller to the Duke of Cumberland” and her success is evident by the considerable quality and quantity of her surviving work.

Eliza had 10 children of whom 5 reached adulthood. Of these, only Panton Betew (1723-1799) worked in the industry as a silver and art dealer

A significant number of strong and powerful female silversmiths achieved successful careers during the 18th century, a time when women enjoyed very few rights, especially in a male dominated industry. The Goldsmith’s Company records 63 women silversmiths working between 1697 and the Victorian era.

biography extracted from Sandra Robinson’s “Simon Pantin & His Children”