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Book Cover for: Stony Jack and the Lost Jewels of Cheapside: Treasure and Ghosts in the London Clay, Victoria Shepherd

Stony Jack and the Lost Jewels of Cheapside: Treasure and Ghosts in the London Clay

Victoria Shepherd

A thrilling history of mudlarkers, charlatans, experts and chancers - the underbelly of the trade in antiques and jewels.

June 1912. A pair of workmen deposit a heavy ball of clay in the antiques shop of George Fabian Lawrence - or 'Stony Jack', as he's better known. As Lawrence picks through the mud, a speck of gold catches his eye. A pearl earring tumbles into his hand, then another. A Burmese ruby follows; then Colombian emeralds, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan and turquoise from Iran; tankards; watches; topaz; amazonite.

Stony Jack has discovered the greatest single cache of Elizabethan treasure.

Diving into London's bustling, sometimes lawless, antiques trade at the turn of the century, Victoria Shepherd provides a compelling portrait of the city at the height of empire. A thrilling history of mudlarkers, charlatans, experts and chancers, Stony Jack and the Lost Jewels of Cheapside oversees the transformation of London into a modern metropolis.

Book Details

  • Publisher: ONEWorld Publications
  • Publish Date: Jul 15th, 2025
  • Pages: 400
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.00in - 1.10lb
  • EAN: 9780861548880
  • Categories: ArchaeologyHistorical GeographyJewelry

About the Author

Shepherd, Victoria: - Victoria Shepherd conceived and produced the ten-part series A History of Delusions for BBC Radio 4. She has produced scores of documentaries and major strands for BBC Radio 4. She holds an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia.