9ct gold charm of a chapelwhich opens from the bottom to reveal a married couple (enamelled)

Full British hallmarks with maker's mark 'FM'

In excellent vintage condition

Weight: 2.56 grams

About the maker:

Manfred Durst (1924-2020) was born in Munich. At the age of 14 he fled the Nazi Germany. Within two years of his arrival he was apprenticed to a company of diamond mounters in Hatton Garden. Although his first job in the jewellery trade involved running errands and sweeping the floors, Manfred was eager to learn. He worked long hours and after work he attended the Central School of Arts & Crafts. In 1946 he launched his jewellery business with a friend, John Najmann. Its name, Fred Manshaw Ltd, reflected his interest in the works of George Bernard Shaw. This firm of manufacturing jewellers would go on to provide employment to survivors of Bergen Belsen concentration camp. The partners, company and the jewellery that they crafted were highly regarded. Eventually, the number of staff employed by Fred Manshaw Ltd. rose to several hundred. They opened a small workshop off Hatton Garden, making faceted wedding rings. He took 36 rings to West End jewellers and by the time he reached Selfridges he had sold them all. Soon the company employed other jewellers and trainees, the first two arriving from Bergen Belsen. Visiting manufacturing jewellers’ workshops in New York and San Francisco, he discovered the lost wax casting process, which meant an article which normally took one hour to make could be repaired and made in minutes. Armed with secret sketches to reproduce the machines required, he returned to the UK and had them copied. By 1951 the company was showing at trade fairs and opened accounts with mail order companies, multiples and buying groups. In recognition of his goldsmithing and entrepreneurial talents Durst was awarded these highly prestigious positions: Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Freeman of the City of London, Member of the British Jewellery Association’s Hallmarking Council and President of the British Jewellery & Giftware Federation

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