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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 20th/21st Century Silversmiths
 Gustav Anderson silversmith
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| Author | Topic: Gustav Anderson silversmith |
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elizabeth jane Posts: 10 |
posted 07-18-2008 04:45 PM
  
[17-0511 26-1697] I am researching Gustav E. Anderson an American silversmith born 1901 in Bergen, Norway, died in 1962 in Madison, Wisconsin. Family members have hand-forged sterling silver flatware services made by Mr. Anderson in the "Ivy" and the "Karen" patterns over the period from 1940 to his death in 1962. I have sources to indicate that these patterns were first issued in 1939. Also, I have learned that Old Newbury Crafters purchased the rights to these two patterns from the widow of Mr. Anderson after his death, and that the patterns remain in continuous production. I would like to inquire if there is any way to validate that Mr. Anderson designed the "Ivy" and the "Karen" patterns, and how they were retailed; also, did Mr. Anderson designed any other patterns? Photographs of an "Ivy" pattern handle and the reverse stamped marking are available at I am helping the family of Gustav E. Anderson catalog some of his work. Thank you very much ------------------ IP: Logged |
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taloncrest Posts: 169 |
posted 07-18-2008 09:44 PM
Your question rang a bell about an earlier thread in this forum, but the silversmith's name is different, his death date is different, but one of the patterns discussed is Karen from ONC: Who was Gunnar Andersen? [This message has been edited by taloncrest (edited 07-18-2008).] IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 07-18-2008 10:56 PM
Welcome to the forum Elizabeth Jane. Do you have images of the mark used by Gustav Anderson? I admire the research you are doing on this craftsmen. It is due to the effort of folks like you that we are aware of these great craftsmen and women. I will see what I turn up in my research files. Fred IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 07-18-2008 11:25 PM
Anderson is a Swedish name; Andersen is Norwegian and Danish. Has the spelling and birth place been confirmed? IP: Logged |
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elizabeth jane Posts: 10 |
posted 07-19-2008 12:43 AM
quote: Dear Dale: I have documentation from the family of Gustav Anderson confirming that he was born in Bergen, Norway in 1901, and learned the trade of silversmithing in Norway before emigrating to the United States. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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elizabeth jane Posts: 10 |
posted 07-19-2008 12:46 AM
quote: Dear Fred: I will post images of the signature and his "Ivy" pattern which is identical to the pattern of the same name currently in production by Old Newbury Crafters. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 07-19-2008 06:28 AM
Members Elizabeth found the edit post icon sooner than most new members.... See that start of this thread for images. IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 07-19-2008 09:16 AM
Elizabeth Jane, The "G" mark in your images is currently attributed to Knut L Gustafson of Chicago. A Swedish immigrant, Gustafson developed the Oak Leaf pattern now made by ONC. This information was gleaned from Sharon Darlings book on Chicago Silversmith and is on page 88 of that book. Check a previous post on this forum. Oak Leaf - ONC - G. Gustafson I wonder what the confusion might be in family history.
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elizabeth jane Posts: 10 |
posted 07-19-2008 07:07 PM
Dear Fred: The provenance of the "Ivy" pattern sterling silver flatware service pictured in my inquiry is based on a testimonial from the granddaughter of Gustav E. Anderson, stating that she purchased the flatware service before the death of Mr. Anderson on January 6, 1962. Additionally, I have three other validations of Mr. Gustav E. Anderson as a silversmith, a trade learned in his native Norway, designing and making silver for the finest stores in the United States(including Georg Jensen in New York City, Tiffany and Company in New York CIty, and Bailey Banks and Biddle in Philadelphia), connecting Mr. Anderson with the "Ivy" and also the "Karen" sterling silver flatware patterns. This evidence consists of a "Wisconsin State Journal" article from the late 1950s, interviewing Mr. Gustav E. Anderson, a January 6, 1962 obituary for Mr. Anderson published in the "Wisconsin State Journal," and a pamphlet advertising and picturing the "Ivy" and the "Karen" sterling silver flatware patterns, titled "Hand-Wrought Sterling Silver by Gustav E. Anderson." Since "G" is a common initial, is it possible that this marking was used by the Swedish silversmith Knut Gustafson or Gustavson based in Chicago, and also by the Norwegian silversmith Gustav E. Anderson? Confusion in identification of these two silversmiths and attribution of their work may be twofold: the similarity of the last name of the Swede, "Gustavson," and the first name of the Norwegian, "Gustav"; and, the posthumous production of each man's silver designs by Old Newbury Crafters. Thank you ------------------ IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 07-20-2008 08:37 AM
Elizabeth Jane, It is wonderful to have acquired the documentation you have on Anderson. Will you be publishing this information? I believe it is important to document whatever information there is for posterity and to better understand the work of these craftsmen. Please keep us posted on what you discover about Mr. Anderson. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 07-20-2008 11:21 AM
Elizabeth, Just noticed you edited your first post once again. Most people (myself included) will not notice an edited earlier post in a thread unless you add a new post to the thread pointing us to your changes/additions. Generally we are in a hurry to see the latest post in a thread and skip over what we have read earlier because we don't expect it to change. I am helping the family of Gustav E. Anderson catalogue some of his work. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 07-20-2008 02:26 PM
Have you checked into the records of the various Scandanavian American organizations? North Park University in Chicago has a lot of the Swedish ones: Svea, Svithiod etc. The Norwegian ones are centralized at Luther College and Westerheim in Decorah IA. Many of the groups are no longer in existance, or are radically changed. The records cover the organization's activities over the years and frequently mention member's noted achievements. Further source might be the records of the Lutheran church. Usually these are kept by individual congregations. So, checking there may turn up some additional insights. Did Anderson have a shop, employees or helpers? IP: Logged |
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silverhunter Posts: 704 |
posted 07-21-2008 05:48 AM
Are the other mentioned silversmiths who lived before in USA family relatifs? Found in a list of silversmiths and with occupations/professions: Silversmiths David Bush Anderson 1792-1854/1855? Juweler/silversmith Albert A. Anderson Juweler Died 1837 There is also a link given Buckhey & Anderson. All info can be read and seen at rootsweb!
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elizabeth jane Posts: 10 |
posted 07-21-2008 01:23 PM
quote: Dear Silverhunter: From my current research, I believe that Gustav E. Anderson was a first generation Norwegian born silversmith who worked on his own. Elizabeth Jane ------------------ IP: Logged |
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elizabeth jane Posts: 10 |
posted 07-21-2008 01:25 PM
quote: Dear Fred: Thank you for your encouragement. I will try to let this forum know when I have more information to offer. I am still waiting to talk with more family members. Elizabeth Jane ------------------ IP: Logged |
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elizabeth jane Posts: 10 |
posted 07-21-2008 01:27 PM
quote: Dale: Yours truly ------------------ IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 05-11-2013 12:26 PM
I believe Elizabeth Jane is correct about Gustave Engolf Andersen being the designer of the Karen pattern. He was probably working at the Celini Shop at the time, and his wife's name was Karen. He was born in Bergen, Norway in 1883 and immigrated here in 1903. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 05-13-2013 01:39 PM
Hi Elizabeth Jane. I applaud your doing this research and look forward to seeing your final results. I am not an expert on Gustav Anderson so I am not able to add anything to what has already been mentioned about him, but I would like to suggest two areas for further thought. The first is that family history very commonly has misunderstanding built into it and always needs to be independently confirmed from other sources. Typically stories passed along are never intentionally misrepresented, but they are like the old party game of "Telephone" where one person whispers a sentence or story into the ear of the person next to them, who then does the same to the next person in line, and so on until the last person in line repeats the story out loud to the merriment of all since by then it will be different from the original. The same goes with family heirlooms and the stories that go with them. I am not saying that this is the case but a good researcher will keep this uncertainty as a core hypothsis until a family story can be confirmed by period documents such as copies of patents, period sales catalogs, period advertisements, period business records, etc. The second thought is the key marking is a letter "G". There may be examples where a maker used their first initial, but off the top of my head I cannot think of one as the normal single letter markings seem to be the initial of their last name. I would encourage you to track down Fred's thought that the "G" marking may more likely be that of Knut L Gustafson and develop certainty as to whether this particular marking on the flatware that features the "G" marking is his or not. [This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 05-14-2013).] IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 05-13-2013 09:34 PM
I'm sorry Kimo, but this is an old post. I think Elizabeth Jane may have been or still is a dealer in Madison,Wisconsin. It would be very surprising if she were to look in on this post after this much time but of course not impossible. I've done a lot of looking for a Gunnar Andersen because of middletom's suggestion without ever finding any possibilities for someone with that name in the correct line of work,and finally concluded to my own satisfaction that the designer of the Karen pattern is Gustave E Andersen. At least one of Gustave's daughter married and settled in Madison, Wisconsin. That fact along with other indicators such as Gustave's wife's name being Karen have cinched it for me. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 05-14-2013 04:28 PM
Oops. I should have looked at the date. IP: Logged |
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elizabeth jane Posts: 10 |
posted 05-15-2013 01:41 PM
I am still "looking in" on the silver forum. I originally started this research on Gustav E. Anderson based on silver owned by his grandson. I am still in touch with his grandson, and hope to examine some of the other pieces that he inherited from his grandfather including items worked in other metals IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 05-15-2013 03:09 PM
I am glad you are still looking in. Here's much of what I have gathered about Gustave, and it is for the most part from primary sources:
2.In the 1910 census, he is listed in Taunton, Massachussetts as a silversmith in a shop working on his own account. His brother William lived there also. 3. In a 1918 Newark, New Jersey city directory, he is as a silversmith living at 68 Winthrop. At least one of his daughters was born there. 4. In the 1920 census he is listed in Madison, Wisconsin as a lathe operator in a machine shop. Apparently, at least one daughter, Lillian, married and settled there. 5. In the 1930 census, he is listed in Columbia, Wisconsin as a farmer. 6. In the 1940 census, he is listed in Chicago, Illinois as a silversmith. His wife's name is Karen. 7. His 1942 draft registration shows him working for Celini Shop in Evanston, Illinois. IP: Logged |
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