Julius Olaf Randahl (1880 – 1972) Swedish Silversmith

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Closeup of Juilus Olaf Randall fork and spoon set
Closeup of Julius Olaf Randall’s fork and spoon set

Julius Olaf Randahl (1880 – 1972) was a Swedish silversmith. He worked in both New York and Chicago. Randahl is best known for his exquisite silver pieces, which were often inspired by nature. His work can be found in several museums and private collections around the world.

Biography

In 1901, he moved to New York and worked for Tiffany and Gorham Manufacturing. In 1907, he worked at the Kalo Shop in Chicago before opening his Randahl Shop in Park Ridge, Illinois, in 1911.

Julius Olaf Randahl Chicago Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Hand Wrought Pitcher
Randahl-Julius-Olaf Hammer

Its hollowware was sold in major department stores such as Marshall Field. The manufacturing process was automated, but the finishing was performed by hand. Randahl was influenced by the Kalo Shop and Georg Jensen in Denmark. The company bought the Cellini Shop in 1957 and Cellini Craft in 1969. Reed and Barton bought it in 1965 and renamed it, Reed and Barton.

Exhibitions

He showed his silverware at the 1937 Paris ‘Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne,’ receiving a silver medal for his fruit and stand candlestick.

Sources

Aspire Auctions, I. (n.d.). Aspire Auctions. https://www.aspireauctions.com/#!/catalog/386/2395/lot/120702.

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

Randahl, J. O. (n.d.). Stemmed coupes set of 12 by Julius OlafRandahl. Stemmed coupes set of 12 by Julius Olaf Randahl on artnet. http://www.artnet.com/artists/julius-olaf-randahl/stemmed-coupes-set-of-12-s-UZ6iSJtPJj0S3vk-a6RQ2.

Additional Reading – Silverware

Dolan, M. (1993). 1830s-1990’s American Sterling Silver Flatware: A Collector’s Identification & Value Guide. United States: Books Americana. https://amzn.to/3mYhbWW

Haslam, M., & Haslam, M. (1995). Marks & Monograms: The Decorative Arts, 1880-1960. Collins & Brown.

Helliwell, S. (1988). Collecting Small Silverware. United Kingdom: Phaidon-Christie’s. https://amzn.to/3TnVSdA

Krekel-Aalberse, A. (1989). Art Nouveau and Art Deco silver. Abrams.

Langford, J. (1998). Silver: A Practical Guide to Collecting Silverware and Identifying Hallmarks. Australia: Sandstone Books. https://amzn.to/3LytDqD

Newman, H. (1987). An illustrated dictionary of silverware: 2,373 entries relating to British and North American wares, decorative techniques and styles, and leading designers and makers, principally from c.1500 to the present. United Kingdom: Thames and Hudson. https://amzn.to/40jlY3p

Rainwater, D. T., Fuller, M., & Fuller, C. (2004). Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers. Schiffer Pub.

Rinker, H. L. (1997). Silverware of the 20th Century: The Top 250 Patterns. United States: House of Collectibles. https://amzn.to/3JLVUsu

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