Norwegian vintage Elvik silver jewelry
Norwegian vintage Elvik silver jewelry
Behind the Norwegian company “Elvik & Co” stands a famous dynasty of silversmiths of several generations. First, its founder Nils Erik Elvik (1853-1935), then his son Nils Martin Elvik (1887-1948), and grandsons Arnold and Edward.
Having received a master’s certificate in 1911, Nils Martin opened a workshop named “Nils M. Elvik Silver and Enamel Factory”. According to the name, the basis of his production was enamel products. His sons were involved in jewelry from childhood, and when the grew up, their father opened another factory for the production of silver and enamel products. Edward headed the factory in 1938.
Officially registered in 1941, Elvik & Co items appeared long before the registration, in the late 19th century. Its founder, Edward Elvik, named the family company after his grandfather, the founder of a dynasty of silversmiths. Initially created to sell products of a family business consisting of two factories, Elvik & Co. expanded. Arnold Elvik (b. 1918), another son of Nils Martin, entered the family business in 1942 and ran another Elvik company from 1947 as a workshop business.
After the death of Nils Martin in 1948, his sons closed one factory. Finally, the Elvik & Co company was a workshop and store selling silver and enamel products. The company was initially located at Storgaten 20, then moved to Vindern (since 1986) and then to Bryn, Oslo.
Norwegian vintage Elvik silver jewelry
Thanks to high quality and materials, handcrafted enamel and silver pieces labeled Elvik are highly collectible. Traditionally, the markings include initials “NE” in a horseshoe (the hallmark for Nils Erik Elvik), or letter “E” in a cloud (the hallmark for both Nils Martin Elvik and Elvik & Co). Also, the marking may include the country of production – Norway, the purity of silver – 830 or 925 sterling silver.
In fact, if not the marking, the products of Elvik & Co are very difficult to distinguish from those of another Norwegian silversmith, Aksel Holmsen. And this is not surprising, since Nils Martin Elvik was his student (1904-1907), and imitated him in technique, choice of materials and design. Aksel Holmsen taught him filigree work with silver and enameling.
Noteworthy, very often vintage jewelry owners sell items labeled “NE” as Nils Elvik’s. But the markings “NE From Denmark” belong to the Danish jeweler Niels Erik From (From is the last name), born in 1908.
