posted 01-02-2000 04:52 PM            

Randy Stromsoe (b. 1951) is one of America's finest practicing silversmiths. He was Porter Blanchard's last apprentice, and has been working on his own since 1979. His workshop is in Cambria, CA, on the coast north of Santa Barbara. His pieces have been used as diplomatic gifts, and one of his signature pieces, a compote bowl supported on three broad columns, is part of the permanent American Craft Collection at the White House. Mr. Stromsoe is also known for his ecclesiastical silver.
Examples of his work are found in many prominent museums.

I would guess that not many pieces of his have made it to the secondary market, as the people who have bought them are probably still alive. At any rate, if you see a piece of silver marked R. Stromsoe, buy it! Stromsoe silver is definitley something to prize.

posted 04-06-2007 01:46 PM            

Fred

posted 09-16-2010 07:53 PM            

Randy Stromsoe, one of the country's finest silversmiths, worked with Wise, so I asked him if he made this pretty piece. Here's Randy's reply:

"This design was discontinued before I met Lewis Wise in 1970. However there were a few days around 1974-75 when Lewie and I made some (a couple of pieces) for one of Lewie's personal customers. Lewie normally only stamped his stamp when asked, always stamping shop work with Porter Blanchard. Lewie was in charge of all the flatware after the early 1950's. I was the only R.S. that worked for Lewie or Porter that I know of; I was Porter's right hand man being taught Holloware [and] I went on to be Lewie's holloware man. Holloware men were rare; I only did a little flatware when working for Lewis. My younger brother Craig Stromsoe was one of Lewie's last apprentices. Craig and I had to stamp both our first and last initials so we were not confused. I stamped R.S. and he C.S. as opposed to just an S. We would put it right after the sterling stamp. So if there is a whole set with R.S. stamped on (40-50 pieces) then I did not make them, but if you have one or two with my stamp on them most likely it is one of pieces we made back in the 70's."

"The basket design was tricky to do. You forged and pre-finished the piece then turned it upside down on a steel block that had the basket design engraved into it, and stuck it hard and evenly with a heavy hammer. You only had one blow to make it perfect -- too light and you had to strike it again and it had to line up prefectly. Too heavy or mis-alined and you bought yourself a flatware piece. The design was hard to do perfectly all the time so Lewie discontinued it, except for special orders."

Randy has a new website -- www.randystromsoe.com -- that showcases some of his wonderful objects. It's definitely worth visiting. And be sure to check out the Facebook photos for Randy-Stromsoe-Silversmith (there's a link to this on his new website -- to find it just click on the CONTACT button). In addition to his terrific silver he has a great step-by-step sequence showing how he makes flatware as well as amazing photos of Porter Blanchard and Lewis Wise, and valuable historical documentation. For instance, the documentation reveals that the source of Blanchard's B09 silver mark was that he established "Geo. P. Blanchard. Co." in 1909. It adds that this mark was used from 1909 to 1923.

posted 09-20-2010 10:55 PM            

A photo can be found on his website.