Our History
When goldsmith Knut Andreas Rasmussen founded K.A. Rasmussen in 1872, he laid the foundation for more than just a company. Over 150 years later, the business has become an international group and the Nordic region’s leading supplier of precious metals.
We go to great lengths to create and manage value in a responsible and environmentally conscious manner. And we always focus on acquiring the necessary knowledge, expertise, and equipment required to operate and develop our business in increasingly sustainable ways.
Knut Andreas Rasmussen established his business in Oslo with a clear specialization in filigree work – a demanding craft with deep roots in Norwegian tradition. In doing so, he also became one of those who contributed to the revival of the old, national filigree industry. Production was extensive, and the work quickly found a market outside Norway’s borders, particularly in England.
In parallel with export and production, the business also operated a general goldsmith shop, where craftsmanship was central. In 1901, his son Edvard Julius Rasmussen took over the business. Under his leadership, the workshop, shop, and production were continued and developed, while he actively engaged in the goldsmith trade through committee work and organizations.
In 1927, shortly before his death, he received the Goldsmiths’ Association’s Medal of Honor, in recognition of his significant contribution to the craft and the industry.
Family Leadership and Professional Breakthrough
After Edvard Julius Rasmussen’s death, the business was continued by his wife, Hilda Rasmussen, in collaboration with the family’s eldest son, Torleiv Rasmussen. Hilda Rasmussen already had a strong commitment to the goldsmith trade and had actively participated in guild work over time, including serving as chairwoman of the goldsmiths’ guild’s women’s committee. Her insight and connection to the trade contributed to stability and continuity during an important transitional period.
However, it was under Torleiv Rasmussen’s leadership that the business truly advanced. Through leadership spanning over 50 years, the workshop and production department developed into the Nordic region’s leading producer and supplier of precious metals to gold and silver manufacturers. The company’s technical and commercial growth was closely linked to Torleiv’s professional expertise, business acumen, and clear willingness to invest in and develop the business.
In parallel with his work in the company, Torleiv Rasmussen was heavily involved in organizational life. For many years, he was a board member of the Oslo Goldsmiths’ Guild, served as the guild’s alderman, and held central positions in the Norwegian Goldsmiths’ Association – including as chairman of the retail council and later as vice-chairman. In this way, he contributed not only to the development of K.A. Rasmussen but also to shaping the framework conditions and professional environment for the goldsmith industry in Norway.
Post-War Era, Expansion, and Industrial Restructuring
The post-war era marked a new chapter in K.A. Rasmussen’s history. Increased demand and technological development laid the foundation for further expansion, and in 1950, the business moved into a newly built factory complex in Hamar. This was an important strategic shift, and the facility remains the company’s main base today. In line with this development, the traditional goldsmith shop was discontinued in the 1960s, and the business shifted its full attention to production and refining.
For more than 150 years, K.A. Rasmussen has evolved in step with new needs and markets. Through diligent work, systematic studies, experimentation, and targeted investments, the company has transformed from a specialist in wire drawing to a producer and supplier of precious metals and precious metal preparations for the technical, chemical, galvanic, and mechanical industries.
This gradual but clear restructuring has laid the foundation for the company’s position as a central industrial partner – both in Norway and internationally.