Shadwell Shams: A Tale of Two Forgers

I always used to think that forgeries were a phenomenon of the 20th century, but according to a story I read recently, they’re not. William Smith and Charles Eaton, known fondly as Billy and Charley, were forgers of small artifacts who did their dirtywork between the years of 1845 and 1870. Their story goes something like this.

When rare artifacts began turning up in the many excavations of a growing 19th century London, Billy and Charley saw a way to make a few shillings. With limited skill and (to scholars) a laughable understanding of a certain basic historical accuracy, the pair began casting fake objects — badges, coins, ampullas, heart reliquaries, diptychs, statues, spear heads, scabbards and more — that they sold to the unsuspecting public as genuine. After carving moulds in plaster and casting a selection of objects, they soaked these novelty items in acid as a way to “age” them. In an effort to provide instant provenance, they even added dates on some of them.

Because the forgers referenced so many wrong, mixed-up bits of historical data, scholars began to question some of their more incongruous combinations. Once these medieval “trinkets” began turning up in private collections and in museums, thousands of them had already been sold to unsuspecting collectors. Billy and Charley were eventually arrested, but managed to avoid jail sentences due to lack of evidence.

Referred to today as the Shadwell Shams, these artifacts are worth more today than in the time they were initially produced made. (Improbably, one source has even reported that there are now fakes of the fakes.)

Genuine Shadwell Shams are hard to find today. They’re highly collectable, and can fetch hundreds of dollars when they turn up at auction. If indeed they ever do.

The images in this post are courtesy of the author at Spitafields Life and the superb historians of English antiquities, Philip and Harold Mernick.

Medallion, c. 1865, with original inscription on buyers label: “Found when excavating for the foundation of Hampton Court Bridge 1865.”

Badge, lead/pewter, with Kings, c. 1865,

Badge, lead/pewter, with Knight running with sword, 110mm x 82mm
Copyright Decorative Art Dept. of National Museums Liverpool

Medallion or badge with knights head and mace, 57mm diameter, c. 1865

Badge, front—of knight, lead/pewter, 77mm diameter, c. 1865

Coin with Jugate head and lion, 43mm diameter

Heart reliquary, c. 1860

Badge, lead and pewter; 125mm x 94mm
Three knights holding swords with animal (verso), c. 1865
Copyright The Trustees of The British Museum

Badge, c. 1865

Heart reliquary, c. 1860

Badge, lead and pewter, c. 1860: King and Knights (verso); size 102 x 77mm
Copyright Museum of London

Shrine, c. 1865

Coin, bearding facing bust, Amorial design, 31mm diameter, c. 1865

Heart reliquary, c. 1865

Statues attributed to Billy and Charley, c. 1865

Original label, Words read: “Bought by Mr Gay of The K. R. of some navigators and stated by them to have been obtained from some excavations at Peckham Rye at Sewer or Railway.”