Gullsmed M. Unhjem
Gullsmed M. Unhjem is a goldsmith business in Kristiansund whose history begins in 1906, when Mathias Unhjem established his own business. Its history emphasises craftsmanship and workshop production. Mathias was particularly known for hand-forged spoons and soup ladles and also practised engraving.
Several generations
The Unhjem name encompasses a family history involving several craftspeople. When examining an older piece, distinguish the company from the individual goldsmith. A business connection does not establish who personally forged, engraved or repaired the object.
What should be examined on cutlery?
Document length, handle and bowl shape, decoration and every mark. Look for altered proportions, repaired breaks and later engraving. An owner's initial or gift inscription is not automatically a manufacturer's mark. A goldsmith's case may indicate where a set was sold without establishing who made each part.
Marks and dating
The business history alone identifies neither a particular responsibility punch nor a model. Preserve the actual reading of symbols and fineness, then compare it with dated sources. Do not date an object to 1906 merely because it is associated with Unhjem. That is the business's starting year, not the production date of all its work.
