August Wilhelm Holmström (2 October 1829 – 1903) was a Finnish
silver
Silver is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag () and atomic number 47. A soft, whitish-gray, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. ...
- and
goldsmith
A goldsmith is a Metalworking, metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Modern goldsmiths mainly specialize in jewelry-making but historically, they have also made cutlery, silverware, platter (dishware), plat ...
. Born in
Helsinki
Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...
,
Finland
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
, he became an apprentice at the workshop of jeweller Karl Herold in
St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city had a population of 5,601, ...
1845—1850, master in 1857 with his own workshop.
Senior member of
Fabergé's workshop, he was head jeweller and also produced parts for composite articles. He died in St. Petersburg. His son
Albert Holmström (1876—1925) continued in his father's footsteps after his death and used the same mark, ''AH''.
His daughter Hilma Alina Holmström (1875—1936) and granddaughter
Alma Pihl
Alma Theresia Pihl-Klee (15 November 1888 in Moscow – 15 July 1976 in Helsinki) was one of the two female designers at Fabergé and one of the best known female Fabergé workmasters.
She was the daughter of Finnish goldsmith (1860–1897), g ...
(1888—1976) were both jewellery designers and workmasters at Fabergé. Alma designed the
Winter Easter Egg and the
Mosaic Easter Egg. Grandson
Oskar Woldemar Pihl
Oskar Woldemar Pihl (11 February 1890 in Moscow – 22 August 1959 in Helsinki) was a Finnish silversmith and Fabergé workmaster, born in the Russian Empire, brother of Alma Pihl. He was the son of and of the daughter of August Holmström, Fanny ...
(1890—1959) was also a jeweller and goldsmith.
References
Sources
* G.von Habsburg-Lothringen & A.von Solodkoff, ''Fabergé - Court Jeweler to the Tsars'' (1979)
* Geoffrey Watts, ''Russian Silversmiths' Hallmarks (1700 to 1917)'' (2006)
* Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm, '' Fabergén suomalaiset mestarit'' (Fabergé's Finnish masters) (2011)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmstrom, August Wilhelm
1829 births
1903 deaths
Artists from Helsinki
Finnish goldsmiths
Goldsmiths from the Russian Empire
Silversmiths from the Russian Empire
Finnish silversmiths
Fabergé workmasters
Finnish people from the Russian Empire