Jewelers

Marius Hammer – Scandinavian modern

Silver brooch with two long filigree openwork flower pendants, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Silver brooch with two long filigree openwork flower pendants, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London

Marius Hammer (1847-1927), third-generation hereditary jeweler, son of Lauritz Hammer (1812-1874), lived and worked in Bergen (Norway). Marius trained in the craft in Hamburg and Berlin before establishing his own workshop in Bergen in 1871. The workshop produced a wide range of tableware and cutlery, as well as jewelry. From around 1880, he specialized in modern versions of traditional Norwegian jewelry, as well as plique-à-jour stained-glass enamel silverware. If Russian ladles are shaped like boats, Marius Hammer’s ladles look like dracars, and filigree openwork decorations look like chain mail and Viking shields.

Marius retired in 1915, but the firm continued until 1930 under his sons Thorolf and Max. Marius Hammer’s work is housed in many renowned museums, including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Silver bridal crown, Hammer, 1863, V&A Museum, London
Silver bridal crown, Hammer, 1863, V&A Museum, London

This crown bears hallmarks indicating that it was made by Lauritz Hammer in Bergen in 1863. Lauritz Hammer specialized in making traditional jewelry, as did his father Soren and his son Marius.

The decorations of this crown are full of symbolic meanings. The crown itself resembles the crown of the Virgin and symbolizes purity or virginity. Lions facing each other are symbols of strength. Roosters are ancient symbols of fertility. Hanging leaves and round pendants are typical of all types of Scandinavian jewelry and are meant to ward off evil spirits.

Silver gilt filigree pendant brooch, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Silver gilt filigree pendant brooch, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Silver gilt leaf-shaped two-piece clasp with applied filigree and scalloped rim, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Silver gilt leaf-shaped two-piece clasp with applied filigree and scalloped rim, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Silver gilded round filigree brooch, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Round filigree brooch, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Silver brooch (byggkornring) with filigree ornaments and pendants, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Silver brooch (byggkornring) with filigree ornaments and pendants, British Museum, London
Double silver gilt brooch with three long filigree pendants, Marius Hammer, British Museum, London
Double silver gilt brooch with three long filigree pendants, British Museum, London.
Openwork necklace decorated with white and lilac enamel, Marius Hammer
Openwork necklace decorated with white and lilac enamel.
Openwork necklace in the form of stylized flowers, decorated with filigree and stained glass enamel, Marius Hammer
Openwork necklace in the form of stylized flowers, decorated with filigree and stained glass enamel.
Silver pendant decorated with blue enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver pendant decorated with blue enamel.
Silver brooch decorated with gilding and turquoise enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver brooch decorated with gilding and turquoise enamel.
Silver brooch decorated with blue enamel, Marius Hammer
Brooch decorated with blue enamel.
Silver brooch decorated with blue enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver brooch decorated with blue enamel.
Silver brooch "Butterfly" with polychrome enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver brooch “Butterfly” with polychrome enamel.
Elegant gilded silver necklace decorated with green enamel, Marius Hammer
Elegant gilded silver necklace decorated with green ename.
Silver brooch "Black Butterfly" decorated with enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver brooch “Black Butterfly” decorated with enamel.
Silver necklace decorated with filigree and enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver necklace decorated with filigree and enamel.
Silver brooch decorated with green stained glass enamel, Marius Hammer
Brooch decorated with green stained glass enamel.
Silver gilded necklace decorated with filigree and enamel flowers, Marius Hammer
Silver gilded necklace decorated with filigree and enamel flowers.
Silver gilded brooch decorated with filigree and blue enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver gilded brooch decorated with filigree and blue enamel.
Elegant silver necklace decorated with filigree and blue enamel, Marius Hammer
Elegant silver necklace decorated with filigree and blue enamel.
Silver necklace decorated with green enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver necklace decorated with green enamel.
Silver necklace in the form of a garland of stylized flowers, decorated with blue enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver necklace in the form of a garland of stylized flowers, decorated with blue enamel.
Silver necklace with gilding and enamel, Marius Hammer
Necklace with gilding and enamel.
Silver garland brooch embellished with mother-of-pearl enamel, Marius Hammer
Silver garland brooch embellished with mother-of-pearl enamel.