SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
20th/21st Century Silversmiths Forum
How to Post Photos REGISTER (click here)

customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  20th/21st Century Silversmiths
tline3open  ASCHJEM Sterling HAND MADE-Chicago?

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   ASCHJEM Sterling HAND MADE-Chicago?
Brent

Posts: 1507
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 02-29-2008 06:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brent     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
[17-0419]

Here is an Arts & Crafts mark which is new to me. The salad set is quite nice, heavy, well proportioned and nicely hammered. It looks like typical Chicago craftsmanship, something Lebolt would have made or sold. All I have able to come up with is that Aschjem is a Norwegian surname, so the craftsman was probably a Norwegian immigrant. Other than that, no records of a Chicago silversmith by that name.

Does anyone have any information?

Thanks!

Brent

IP: Logged

FredZ

Posts: 1070
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 02-29-2008 09:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FredZ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Brent,

I agree that these do look like items I have seen from Chicago smiths. Is it possible that the name is a combination of names?

ArtSilverCHicagoJeweleryE?Manufacturers. Pure speculation.

As you mentioned Aschjem is a Norwegian Surname. Perhaps a craftsman from one of the shops who made item for himself or for friends.

Fred

[This message has been edited by FredZ (edited 02-29-2008).]

[This message has been edited by FredZ (edited 02-29-2008).]

IP: Logged

Brent

Posts: 1507
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 02-29-2008 11:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brent     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Fred,

Thanks for the input! It did occur to me that the name might be an acronym or even a reversal of a name, since Aschjem just looks so strange. I'm thinking it must be a name no, though.

I seem to recall reading that Lebolt used a bunch of different suppliers; perhaps Aschjem was one of them, and, as you suggest, made some pieces for his own purposes.

Thanks again,

Brent

IP: Logged

bascall

Posts: 1629
Registered: Nov 99

iconnumber posted 03-01-2008 01:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bascall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There is an Ole N Aschjem who is listed as a Chicago silversmith and retailer in the 1930 U. S. Federal Census. Ole was born in Illinois to Norwegian parents in about 1875.

IP: Logged

FredZ

Posts: 1070
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 03-01-2008 06:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FredZ     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
bascall is onto something. This must be the craftsman that made your salad set.

Brent, Where did you acquire these?

Fred

[This message has been edited by FredZ (edited 03-01-2008).]

IP: Logged

vathek

Posts: 966
Registered: Jun 99

iconnumber posted 03-01-2008 08:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for vathek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was going to suggest looking through Kalo's smiths as it seems most of the Chicago smiths went through Kalo at one time or another.

IP: Logged

Brent

Posts: 1507
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 03-01-2008 08:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brent     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Bascall! You are a real asset to the forums. I think Ole must be the culprit; does he show up in 1920? If the right guy, he would have been 55 in 1930, and you'd think he would have started in the business before then.

I bought the set here in Indiana, so it likely isn't far from where it was produced.

Kalo did employ a lot of the Chicago silversmiths at one time or another; does anyone have a list? Is there one published? Aschjem isn't in Darling, but we know it is not as complete as it was intended to be.

Brent

IP: Logged

bascall

Posts: 1629
Registered: Nov 99

iconnumber posted 03-01-2008 10:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for bascall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you Brent. He shows up as a silversmith in 1910 in the same location & etc. His is definitely one of those names that is susceptible to being "murdered," so finding him in the indexes is a bit tricky.

IP: Logged

Dale

Posts: 2132
Registered: Nov 2002

iconnumber posted 03-01-2008 04:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Dale     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
FWIW, part of my understanding of Chicago silver is that some of the smiths worked in a cooperative style setting. That is they remained individual smiths with their own styles and tools but worked together under one roof. LeBolt had something up about it in their store when I was first interested in silver. It was an exhibit showing pictures of their silver making from 70 years earlier.

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices