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: K - N
DIRECTORY: A-F G-J
K-N
O-Z
ALPHABETIC/FIGURAL DIRECTORY
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Johan G. Kjaerland - Bergen
1937-1985
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Julie Kvarekval - Voss
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Olav Lindrup
Olav Lindrup (b.1875 - d.1968) founded Lindrup & Egner in 1919. In 1924 he openeded a workshop in his own name, active until 1942 when it was transferred to the wholesaler Hans Myhre.
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Brødrene Lohne - Bergen
Founded in 1921 by brothers Alf and Johan Lohne. Bought by Theodor Olsens Eftf in 2011
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Otto Wilhelm Kjellberg, Västerås
Active c. 1850
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Thorvald Marthinsen Sølvvarefabrik - Tonsberg
Founded in 1883 by Thorvald Marthinsen and managed by Marthinsen family until present
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Bernard Meldahl - Oslo
b. 1873 d. 1950. Active 1931-1950. After his death the business was acquired by Hans Myhre
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Einar Modahl - Oslo
enamelware workshop established by Einar Modahl in 1920. In 1937 Modhal entered in partnership with Otto Frisch and the business became a limited company. At the death of Modhal (1951) the company continued activity under the management of Otto Frisch. After the death of Frisch (1970) the company closed in 1987.
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Henrik Møller - Trondhjem
Henrik Møller (1858-1937) one of the major proponent of Dragestil (Dragon Style), a Norse revival style of Arts and Craft movement using motifs of Viking and medieval art and architecture of Scandinavia. It often featured motifs such as serpents and dragons, hence its popular appellation.
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Hans Myhre - Oslo
In the early 1950s bought Hroar Prydz and Bernhard Meldahl jewelry businesses. Myhre & Prydz lines where bought by David Andersen.
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Brødrene Mylius - Kragerø
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Haakon Schanke Nielsen - Bergen
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Arne Nordlie - Oslo
(b. 1908 - d. 1995) after apprenticeship at J. Torstrup opened his workshop in 1943 designing and making his silver and silver-enamel jewellery. In 1969, his son Per Arne Nordlie joined the company as a trained goldsmith.
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Norsk Filigransfabrikk - Oslo
Founded by Clement Berg and Samuel Holm in 1889 and ran with several variations of officially licenses until 1906 when the company closed down.
In 1910 Norsk Filigransfabrikk started up again with Albert Scharning as General Manager who continued in this role until 1927 when Einar Modahl joined as partner. Norsk Filigransfabrikk ceased activity in 1931.
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Norsk Sølvvareindustri - Oslo
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NORWEGIAN / NORWAY SILVER MAKERS
DIRECTORY: A-F G-J
K-N
O-Z
ALPHABETIC/FIGURAL DIRECTORY
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