posted 03-13-2011 01:12 PM            

Silversmith to His Majesty the King
BARON ERIK FLEMINGS DESIGNS
ARE IN MUSEUMS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

A dozen teachers of silversmithing met in Rhode Island last Summer. They had gathered to take a refresher course in their ancient art from one of its most eminent modern masters—Baron Erik Fleming, Court Silversmith to His Majesty the King of Sweden.

As audiences will, the little group looked the Baron over as he rose to greet them. Here was a man who had made huge silver table services for royalty, an exquisite humidor for Winston Church- ill’s famous cigars, and beautiful silver work designs to the number of 6,000 or 7,000. What evidences of his art would there be on his person? What rare bits of jewelry would he wear? None—save per- haps the modest ring on his little finger. But what was that in his lapel-~some ancient Viking shield? Well, who’d have guessed! It was a Rotary wheel, the like of which you’ll find in the lapels of 330,000 men around the world. For the Baron is a Past Vice-President, and member of some 20 years’ standing, of the Rotary Club of Stockholm.

Perhaps the place to start his story is in his own workshop, the Atelier Borgia, in Stockholm. There, with the help of the 35 skilled craftsmen who carry out his designs, the Baron. has made his reputation as a world authority on the art of working with gold and silver. Some of his pieces—which range from ash trays to processional crosses—are thought the Best examples of modern silversmithing, and it was therefore no surprise that Rotarian Fleming was called on to design an 86—piece table service as a wedding present to Prince Gustav Adolf from the Swedish people. His work is on view in many museums in various parts of the world—among them the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City—and, as a judge of fine silverware, he is frequently asked to examine and value rare pieces.

But, as a matter of fact, Rotarian Fleming didn’t plan to be a silversmith at all. When he graduated from high school in Stockholm, he first wanted to be a painter. His father, who was an officer in the Swedish Army. thought the boy ought to pick out :1 profession which was a little more likely ID let him make a name for himself. and he therefore went oil to Munich, Germany, for a few years, to study architecture. But on his return to Sweden he decided he didn’t want to be an architect, after all, and began to experiment with silver. lt wasn’t long before he had sold some of his designs, and, hiring an assistant, opened the workshop which has operated for 30 years and numbers among its staff the eldest of the Baron’s three sons, following in his father’s footsteps.

Although most of the Baron`s creative skill goes into silversmithing, he's a consultant to industry, too, and many’s the blueprint that has come from his drawing board. Kitchen equipment has interested him, and he designed a number of things-from refrigerators to coffee pots to casseroles. He has also engineered several modern and efficient lighting arrangements, and during World War II his contributions were surgeons’ supplies, hypo-dermic needles for blood transfusions, and buckles for uniforms.

The Baron teaches silversmithing at the Stockholm Arts and Crafts School and holds Sweden’s highest awards for artistic achievement, but one of his greatest interests is the spread of Rotary. Here ports an increasing number of Clubs in Sweden, and, as for the Stockholm Club, says that the city’s growing importance often brings it about that, at the weekly meetings, there are more visitors than members!

It’s a little surprising to learn that, although his classification doesn’t read that way, the Baron is also a porter—yes, the kind that seizes your suitcase in a railroad station! Not that he's planning a new career, but it is part of his long-standing member-ship in a unique, 18-man organization known as the Porters’ Club in which the members—mostly architects and shipping 1nen—-do odd jobs for money during the year. Then at an annual luncheon which is always held on the last Sunday before Christmas, the members get together to celebrate the year’s achievements and turn in their "take," It goes to the poor or to charitable institutions which the members select.