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ASCHJEM Sterling HAND MADE-Chicago?

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Author	Topic: ASCHJEM Sterling HAND MADE-Chicago?
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 02-29-2008 06:50 PM [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	posted 02-29-2008 09:51 PM 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	posted 02-29-2008 11:16 PM 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	posted 03-01-2008 01:51 AM 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	posted 03-01-2008 06:42 AM 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	posted 03-01-2008 08:33 AM 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	posted 03-01-2008 08:46 AM 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	posted 03-01-2008 10:28 AM 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	posted 03-01-2008 04:59 PM 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

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