posted 06-09-2009 12:05 PM            

The collection is here!

I have about 60 or so pieces - just a few are sets of 2 - 6 pieces. Most of these came with my husband's grandparents when they immigrated from Norway to NY in 1919.

This is my favorite piece. From looking at other pictures on this site I think it is a fish server.

Close up of handle:

And the head - isn't it beautiful!

But this is why I love it this piece...

Under a beautifully engraved "W" - (family's initial) is "Fra Lysholms Arbeidere" What does this mean? From Lysholm Workers? (crude translation via Google).

Also, I can't find any reference to this maker - "C&S" - (full mark is 'C&S830S')

posted 06-12-2009 09:35 AM            

I have tried to find out the meaning of C&S but I wonder if it can be an indication for a jeweler/retail shop "C&S" (short name (of two letters)formed by two persons who lead a shop or company).

This piece and totally flatware was made in order for the workers of the company which was settled in Trondheim (?). Lysholms

give a link to Trondheim. I will also be helpful in you can inform us, considering the city your husbands grandfather was born or has lived before emigrate to the U.S.A. in 1919.

I get the impression that the person was a manager or director of a company and got a totally silver set of his workmen.

Because he traveled a lot by boat it is also possible he collected silver in his days, because Tønsberg ( city called by Blakstone, considering your tea set) is a harbor city and your father could have bought the tea set over there.

During a business trip combination?

The translation is well done like you said workers from Lysholms.

I'm not a Viking so I don't know the right answer but gave it a try from this side.
Success with the solution.

posted 06-12-2009 11:49 PM            

'You'll find aquavit throughout Scandinavia, but the Norwegians make a special kind they call "linie aquavit." Linie (pronounced "LINN-yuh") is the Norwegian word for "line," referring, in this case, to the equator. Linie aquavit is shipped from Norway, across the equator, down to Australia, and back again in oak sherry casks. Afficionados say the liquor gains a richer flavor as it sloshes around in the barrels for several weeks.

The concept of linie aquavit happened by accident in the 1800s. Jørgen Lysholm owned a distillery in Trondheim, Norway. His mother and uncle sent a batch of aquavit to Asia on a large sailing ship, hoping to market it there. It didn't sell, however, and five barrels were shipped back to Trondheim. When the aquavit arrived back in Norway, Lysholm noticed it had a richer flavor. At that time, Norway was shipping dried cod around the world. Lysholm began loading barrels of aquavit onto freighters that carried the cod, and retrieving them at the end of a long round trip.

With a little searching, you can find Linie Aquavit in the United States. If you look through the bottle at the back side of the label, you'll find the name of the ship that carried it across the equator, along with the date it sailed.'

posted 06-15-2009 08:46 AM            

Vilhelm listed 'banker' as his occupation on the declaration form in 1916 for his trip from Norway to the US. At that time he was living in Oslo. He made three trips between Norway & the US - 1916, 1919 (bringing the family over) and then in 1924, so obviously he did travel a lot, and perhaps through Norway as well. I'm finding that the different pieces of this collection are coming from silver makers all over - not just Oslo - so it makes sense that he picked up pieces during his travel.

posted 06-16-2009 05:44 PM            

I'm glad the museum in Denmark open his doors, please show them once, it should be great to see them. My blood pressure is rising to extreme level. Without genever because I've to be sober to recognize all that Scandinavian silver.

Have you already visited Amsterdam?

There were a lot of antique shop visitors in the last period seen in Amsterdam!

With a Danish/English accent.They bought a lot of silver? That's is good for our economy and silverforums of course!

posted 08-03-2009 03:43 PM            

I've been corresponding with a new found relative - cousin - in Norway and just learned that my husband's great-grandfather was the managing director of the Lysholm distillery! He was born in 1859, so I'm not sure when this piece was acquired or for what occasion, but at least we know the connection.