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In 1912, after moving from their native Hungary, Edmund Boker and Ernest Gould formed the Chicago Art Silver Shop.  Both had worked as silversmiths in a Budapest factory making objects for European royal families. 

 

Amethyst ring in original Art Silver Shop box

 

Boker initially moonlighted at Chicago's Lebolt & Company to help bankroll the new store.  In 1918 they shortened the name to the Art Silver Shop, and when business slackened in 1934 they changed their business to focus on wholesale jewelry and renamed it the Art Metal Studios.

 

 

Boker did the designing and repousse work, while Gould fashioned the larger pieces.  While other shops seem to have had good luck with apprentices, Boker and Gould did not.  Some of the Shop's jewelry does seem a bit heavy-handed.  But Boker and Gould's own work was highly regarded, displaying a distinctive European Art Nouveau influence.

 

Chicago Art Silver Shop Pearl Pendant

 

The oldest (1912-1918) mark was CA / SS in an oval cartouche, for the Chicago Art Silver Shop.  The pieces from this period are among the firm's most accomplished, and are close in quality to the better items from the Kalo Shop.  The CASS pendant above is one of the nicer pieces we've seen from this company.  It is slender and delicate, and classic in design.

 

CASS mark:

SAS mark:

AMS mark:

 

Item

Description

Size

Marks

Art Silver Shop necklace, composed of 16 hammered oval links connected by small loops, centering a large oval lapis pendant. Pendant has four rectangular cutouts at the "corners" on a broad flat rim, alternating with two applied teardrop shaped decorations at top and bottom, and three on each side. At the center is a large deep square bezel-set cabochon lapis stone with rounded corners.

Necklace, composed of 16 hammered oval links connected by small loops, centering a large oval lapis pendant.  Pendant has four rectangular cutouts at the "corners" on a broad flat rim, alternating with two applied teardrop shaped decorations at top and bottom, and three on each side.  At the center is a large deep square bezel-set cabochon lapis stone with rounded corners.

Chain:  16-3/4" L and 7/16 W

Pendant:  1-9/16" H and 1-5/16" W

On link:  [SAS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

On pendant:  HAND MADE / [SAS mark] / STERLING

Art Silver Shop necklace, composed of 20 hammered trapezoidal links connected by small loops, centering a pendant with a large green oval stone. The links are arranged in pairs with the wide ends together. The pendant is shield-shaped with pierced geometric details extending from the curved sides and at the top, and applied curving cutout forms centering a large oval green bezel-set cabochon stone.

Necklace, composed of 20 hammered trapezoidal links connected by small loops, centering a pendant with a large green oval stone.  The links are arranged in pairs with the wide ends together.  The pendant is shield-shaped with pierced geometric details extending from the curved sides and at the top, and applied curving cutout forms centering a large oval green bezel-set cabochon stone.

15-2/3" L and 1-5/8" H

HAND MADE / STERLING / [SAS mark]

Art Silver Shop pendant on chain, handwrought in sterling silver with pierced geometric frame in sophisticated styling featuring a central dyed light blue mottled agate. Fine links form a paper clip chain.

Pendant on chain, handwrought in sterling silver with pierced geometric frame in sophisticated styling featuring a central dyed light blue mottled agate.  Fine links form a paper clip chain.

Pendant: 1-1/2" H and 1-1/8" W

Chain:  15"

HAND MADE [SAS Mark] STERLING

Chicago Art Silver Shop pendant on chain, early, handwrought in sterling silver with pierced round frame centering a large round bezel-set blister pearl, and applied flower and leaves top and bottom. Fine links form a paper clip chain. Very delicate.

Pendant on chain, early, handwrought in sterling silver with pierced round frame centering a large round bezel-set blister pearl, and applied flower and leaves top and bottom.  Fine links form a paper clip chain.  Very delicate.

Pendant:   15/16" W and 1-3/8" H to top of bail

 

Chain:  16-1/4" L

STERLING / HAND -MADE / [CA / SS mark in oval]

Art Silver Shop necklace, composed of large teardrop-shaped lapis pendant on paperclip chain with two solid silver links directly above the pendant. Pendant has curving diamond-shaped detail at top with downward-facing sharp point, and three matching inverted details at bottom with upward-facing sharp points. Long boomerang-shaped applied details on the sides center a large bezel-set cabochon lapis stone. Long paperclip chain alternates long oval links with three rounded ones, and ends with two long silver links the same teardrop-shape as the pendant but with squared-off sides.

Necklace, composed of large teardrop-shaped lapis pendant on paperclip chain with two solid silver links directly above the pendant.  Pendant has curving diamond-shaped detail at top with downward-facing sharp point, and three matching inverted details at bottom with upward-facing sharp points.  Long boomerang-shaped applied details on the sides center a large bezel-set cabochon lapis stone.  Long paperclip chain alternates long oval links with three rounded ones, and ends with two long silver links the same teardrop-shape as the pendant but with squared-off sides.

Chain:  14" L

Pendant:  1-7/16" H and 1" W

HAND MADE / STERLING / [SAS mark]

Art Silver Shop pendant on chain, oval, with repoussé sides, triangular bezel, and oval bezel-set cabochon carnelian stone with open back. On delicate replacement chain.

Pendant on chain, oval, with repoussé sides, triangular bezel, and oval bezel-set cabochon carnelian stone with open back.  On delicate replacement chain.

Pendant:   1-1/2" H to top of bale and 11/16" W

 

Chain:  23" L

_MADE [SAS mark] STERLING

Art Silver Shop brooch / pin, shield-shaped, with sides that curve down gently to a point on the bottom, and upward with a slightly concave curve to a point at the top. Applied tusk-shaped forms over curving saw-pierced details, centering an oval bezel-set blue cabochon lapis or sodalite stone.

Brooch / pin, shield-shaped, with sides that curve down gently to a point on the bottom, and upward with a slightly concave curve to a point at the top.  Applied tusk-shaped forms over curving saw-pierced details, centering an oval bezel-set blue cabochon lapis or sodalite stone.

1-3/4" H and 1-1/4" W

[SAS mark] / HAND MADE / STERLING

Art Silver Shop brooch / pin, made of overlapping cutout and applied arrowhead forms on a complex cutout frame centering a large oval bezel-set cabochon tigers-eye stone.

Brooch / pin, made of overlapping cutout and applied arrowhead forms on a complex cutout frame centering a large oval bezel-set cabochon tigers-eye stone.

1-5/8" W and 1-1/4" H

[SAS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Silver Shop brooch / pin, oval, with flat hammered edge and large oval bezel-set cabochon carnelian stone at center. Heavily hammered surfaces.

Brooch / pin, oval, with flat hammered edge and large oval bezel-set cabochon carnelian stone at center.  Heavily hammered surfaces.

1-1/4" W and 7/8" H

HAND MADE [SAS mark] STERLING

Art Metal Studios pendant, diamond-shaped, centering large bezel-set oval faceted citrine, with single applied silver lobe top and bottom and three lobes on each side. Bale on loop at top for chain. Hammered surface.

Pendant, diamond-shaped, centering large bezel-set oval faceted citrine, with single applied silver lobe top and bottom and three lobes on each side.  Bale on loop at top for chain.  Hammered surface.

1-3/4" H (not including loop at top) and 7/8" W

[AMS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Metal Studios brooch / pin, oval, with ends that have small lobes top and bottom, centering large bezel-set oval cabochon green-blue stone, with curving pointed cutouts surrounding it on all four sides. Heavily hammered surface.

Brooch / pin, oval, with ends that have small lobes top and bottom, centering large bezel-set oval cabochon green-blue stone, with curving pointed cutouts surrounding it on all four sides.  Heavily hammered surface.

1-5/8" W and 1-1/4" H

STERLING [AMS mark] / HAND MADE

Art Silver Shop brooch / pin, long, with rounded center tapering away from the middle then flaring out again at the very ends, which are squared off. Large bezel-set oval light blue-grey cabochon stone at center flanked on both sides with chased and applied leaves. Hammered surfaces.

Brooch / pin, long, with rounded center tapering away from the middle then flaring out again at the very ends, which are squared off.  Large bezel-set oval light blue-grey cabochon stone at center flanked on both sides with chased and applied leaves.  Hammered surfaces. 

2-5/16" L and 1/2" H

[SAS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Silver Shop brooch / pin, long, with rounded center tapering away from the middle then flaring out again at the ends, which are curved and pointed. Large round bezel-set orange faceted topaz stone at center flanked on both sides with chased and applied leaves. Hammered surfaces.

Brooch / pin, long, with rounded center tapering away from the middle then flaring out again at the ends, which are curved and pointed.  Large round bezel-set orange faceted topaz stone at center flanked on both sides with chased and applied leaves.  Hammered surfaces.

2-7/16" L and 1/2" H

[SAS mark] / HAND MADE / STERLING

Art Silver Shop brooch / pin, with central pointed oval bar form, looping chased and saw-pierced star-shapes at either end, chased edge. Nice hammering.

Brooch / pin, with central pointed oval bar form, looping chased and saw-pierced star-shapes at either end, chased edge.  Nice hammering.

2-11/16" L and 3/8" W

[SAS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE / ART SILVER SHOP

Ring, very large, with large yellow oval bezel-set faceted citrine, wide flat edge with applied flower and leaves curving around tall bezel top and bottom, and a silver bead in the middle on each side.  Three spreading "fingers" at each end of the shank where it meets the front. 

 

The front of this ring is unusually large (and deep) and in a form that resembles a pendant.  The three-fingered shank is in the style of other AMS rings, but the makers may have produced the front element to work both as a pendant and a ring.

1-1/4" H and 7/8" W and 1-1/8" D

[AMS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Silver Shop ring, with large amethyst surrounded by flowers on each side. In blue SAS box with gold design on cover.

Ring, with large amethyst surrounded by flowers on each side.  In blue SAS box with gold design on cover (see above).

Ring:  11/16" H and 9/16" W and 3/4" D

Box:  1-1/2" W and 1-5/16" L and 1-1/4 H

Ring:  STERLING / SAS / HAND MADE

Box: [TASS mark] / The / ART SILVER / Shop / 17 NORTH STATE ST. / CHICAGO

Art Metal Studios ring, with large dark blue oval lapis or sodalite bezel-set cabochon stone with four additional wide prongs, with an applied and chased flower over three long chased leaves on each side.

Ring, with large dark blue oval lapis or sodalite bezel-set cabochon stone with four additional wide prongs, with an applied and chased flower over three long chased leaves on each side.

1-1/8" D and 3/4" W and 7/8" H

[AMS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Metal Studios ring, with large dark blue oval bezel-set stone, three applied "fingers" on each side, adjustable back with overlapping ends.

Ring, with large dark blue oval bezel-set stone, three applied "fingers" on each side, adjustable back with overlapping ends.

1-1/8" D and 3/4" W and 7/8" H

[AMS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Metal Studios bracelet, with large intaglio carnelian stone, open back and tapering rounded ends. Stone is bezel-set with profile of helmeted Greek or Roman soldier. Chased design on both sides of stone. Hammered surface.

Bracelet, with large intaglio carnelian stone, open back and tapering rounded ends.  Stone is bezel-set with profile of helmeted Greek or Roman soldier.  Chased design on both sides of stone.  Hammered surface.

2-1/2" W and 2-1/4" D and 7/8" W

[AMS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Metal Studios bracelet, with open back and tapering rounded ends, applied "DEC" mono in oriental style, nice hammering.

Bracelet, with open back and tapering rounded ends, applied "DEC" mono in oriental style, nice hammering.

2-3/8" W and 1-15/16" D and 3/4" H

STERLING / [AMS mark] / HAND MADE

Art Metal Studios bracelet, with open back and tapering rounded ends, applied "K Δ K" mono, nice hammering.

Bracelet, with open back and tapering rounded ends, applied "K Δ K" mono, nice hammering.

2-3/16" W and 1-7/8" D and 5/8" H

[AMS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Metal Studios bracelet, with open back and tapering rounded ends, applied "ET" mono in circle, nice hammering.

Bracelet, with open back and tapering rounded ends, applied "ET" mono in circle, nice hammering.

2-5/16" W and 2-1/8" D and 5/8" W

[AMS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

Art Metal Studios bracelet, with open back and tapering rounded ends.

Bracelet, with open back and tapering rounded ends.

2-7/16" W and 2-1/8" D and 3/8" W

[AMS mark] / STERLING / HAND MADE

 

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