Item number: 59085
A rare pair of Art Nouveau 830 grade silver fish servers,
Bergen (Norway) circa 1910 by Emil Hoye for Kristian Hestenes
The rhomboid-shaped, partially pierced bowl in the shape of a ray. The end of the handle worked as a plastic, twisted tail with fins. The serving fork worked to the end of the handle in analogy to the fish server, the tines as abstract sea snakes.
An exceptional and rare pair of Norwegian Art Nouveau fish servers of a good gauge and excellent condition. The plastic relief on the handles flattened on the underside.
Fish server: 27.8 cm / 10.94″ length; 134.5 g / 4.32 oz
Serving fork: 25.1 cm / 9.88″ length; 117.8 g / 3.78 oz
Emil Hoye silversmith and designer
Emil Hoye (actually “Høye”), born in Bergen in 1875 and died there in 1958, was an important designer from the era of the Norwegian Art Nouveau. Mainly known as a designer and goldsmith, there are also some advertising poster designs known by him that are artistically close to Alphonse Mucha. Emil Hoye was employed for a time as a designer at the silversmithy of Magnus Aase and held the position of director there from 1910 to 1916 until he went into self-employment. Before and after that, he also worked as a designer for other silversmiths.
Kristian M. Hestenes, also born in Bergen in 1873 and died in 1928, opened his shop with an adjoining workshop in 1904. The company specialised in silver cutlery, hollowware and jewellery. His son Magnus (1901 – 1984) took over the business after his father’s death in 1928. The company was closed in 1993.
