EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SILVER AND GOLD HALLMARKS
NORWAY
A silver or gold object that is to be sold commercially is, in most countries, stamped with one or more hallmarks indicating the purity of the metal and the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith
The word "HALLMARK" derives from the fact that, since the 16th century, precious metals were sent to the London Goldsmiths' Hall for testing to ensure that the correct standard of silver had been used. The Goldsmiths' Hall was the headquarters of the Goldsmiths' Company and the home of the Assay Office.
In some countries, the testing of precious metal objects and marking of purity is controlled by a national assay office.
Depending on the national legislation the use of hallmarks may be compulsory, voluntary or provided by a manufacturer's declaration.
The Norwegian hallmarking system is organized on a voluntary base.
Norway was in union with Denmark from 1380. In 1814 Norway was ceded to Sweden. In 1905 the union with Sweden was dissolved and the Norwegian constitutional monarchy was reinstated,
The modern Norwegian system of hallmarking came into effect after the 1891 Act.
It consists of the national symbol of a crowned rampant lion holding a battle axe inside a circular frame, the silver fineness mark and the maker's mark.
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In 1892, silver fineness was standardized at .830 and the mark 830S became compulsory. In 1920, standard .925 started to replace .830 purity.
At the present purity 999, 925, 830 and 800 are admitted for silver items, but .925 is the foremost standard in use.
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OTHER MARKS ON NORWEGIAN SILVER AND SILVERPLATE
The "NM" mark, often present in Norwegian silver, is the abbreviation of "Norskt Mönster" meaning Norwegian pattern. It is a kind of a copyright mark for Norway
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Mark registered in 1929 by the "Fabrikantgruppen innen Gull- og Solvvareleverandorenes Forening" (The manufacturer group within the Association of Gold and Silver Manufacturers)
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A quality mark, rarely used, introduced in 1947 to certify the quality of silverware
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Quality mark introduced in 1931 by the Norwegian Goldsmiths' Association for white metal plated with at least 60 grams of silver
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HALLMARKING CONVENTION
Norway is from 1983 a country member of the Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals, an international treaty between States on the cross border trade in precious metal articles. It was signed in Vienna in November 1972 and entered into force in 1975.
The Convention's Common Control Mark (CCM) has the same legal status as a national Assay Office mark. The CCM is applied by national Assay Offices to articles of platinum, gold, palladium and silver after the fineness of the alloy has been checked in accordance with agreed testing methods.
Articles bearing the CCM - together with the national Assay Office Mark, the responsibility mark (manufacturer or sponsor) and the fineness mark indicating its purity - do not have to be re-controlled or re-marked in the states members of the Convention.
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NORWEGIAN / NORWAY SILVER MAKERS: A - F
DIRECTORY: A-F G-J
K-N
O-Z
ALPHABETIC/FIGURAL DIRECTORY
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Ole Aas - Trondhjem
active in the 1880s. Manufacturer of silverware and filigree works
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Magnus Aase - Bergen
Magnus Aase established his workshop in Bergen in 1899, and was eventually one of the country's best known silversmiths. In 1902 he and his brother Knut took over Theodor Olsen business
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David Andersen - Oslo
factory founded by David Andersen (1843-1901), active from 1876 in Kirkegaten 19 moving in 1888 to Carl Johansgt. 20. Andersen had realized the need to use mechanical equipment to compete on price. The firm obtained great success at the world exhibitions in Paris and St. Louis, establishing as a leader in the field of plique-a-jour enamelware. The company name was changed to David-Andersen (with a hyphen between the two names) in 1942.
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Andresen & Scheinpflug - Oslo
partnership of Jens Ingvald Andresen (1901-1974) and Scheinpflug. Active 1936-1966. Manufacturers of high quality enameled silver jewelry.
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John Baalerud - Oslo
(1914-1983) active from 1935 as manufacturer of enamelled jewellry. The business was closed in 1988
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Oystein Balle - Stavanger
Oystein Balle, born in Stavanger (1928-1998) was a fine Scandinavian silversmith and enamelist. Started his own workshop in 1953. Known for his use of colorful vitreous enamels in abstract modernist and biomorphic designs. Balle is known for its quality workmanship, innovative design, and vibrant colors. The workshop was closed in 1978
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Clemet Berg - Oslo
(1852-1941) active from 1889 in the Norsk Filigransfabrikk in partnership with Samuel Holm (activity closed in 1897). Berg continued under his name until 1920. The workshop was bought by Emil Marthinsen who operated until 1960 under the style C.Bergs eftf.
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Asbjørn Birkelund - Oslo
Asbjørn Birkelund (b.1923 - d.2006) active 1950-1992
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Fredrik Julius Brink - Oslo
Born in Kristiania/Oslo in 1808, apprenticeship by Steinbach and Ebbesen in Copenhagen 1828-33, back in Kristiania he worked with Jacob Tostrup. Brink was a master in 1834. Before his death (1857) the business was overtaken by N. M. Thune
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Erling Christoffersen
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Anna Greta Eker - Fredrikstad
born in Finland (1928), she settled in Norway after she married Erling Christoffersen, founder of the Norway Plus applied arts centre in Frederikstad. Together with Tone Vigeland, she defined the new wave of jewellery design in Norway in the 1960s and their work was widely exported
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Nils Erik Elvik - Oslo
Elvik & Co A/S - Oslo
Nils Erik Elvik (1853-1935) founder of a famous dynasty of several generations silversmiths (his son Nils Martin Elvik, 1887-1948, and grandsons Arnold and Edward). Elvik & Co was officially registered in 1941 by Edward Elvik but they appeared long before the registration, in the late 19th century. Manufacturers of high quality and materials, handcrafted enamel and silver. The markings include initials "NE" in a horseshoe (the hallmark for Nils Erik Elvik), or letter "E" in a cloud (the hallmark for both Nils Martin Elvik and Elvik & Co)
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O.Førlie A/S
a family business founded by Olaus Førlie (1840-1900) in 1861. The business was continued by Olaus' son in law Marcus Goplen, grandson Odd Even Goplen and great-grandson Børre. Børre's daughet carries on the family tradition.
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Anthonius Frisch - Oslo (1826 - 1916)
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Magnus Fryberg - Jönköping - active 1817-1834/41
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NORWEGIAN / NORWAY SILVER MAKERS
DIRECTORY: A-F G-J
K-N
O-Z
ALPHABETIC/FIGURAL DIRECTORY
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