Oskar Pihl

(1890-1959)

Oskar Woldemar Pihl was a Russian silversmith of Finnish origin, a grandson of world-famous silver and goldsmith August Wilhelm Holmström. Both the grandfather and the grandson were prominent Fabergé workmasters.

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Oskar learned the trade and became a jeweller, he made small items such as enamelled tie pins and brooches. Although he had started his work in Saint-Petersburg, after the Russian Revolution in 1917 he moved to Finland, where he continued his journey as a craftsman. Later on, Oskar Pihl became a designer and an art director at Tillander, Finnish company, that manufactures jewellery, founded in Saint Petersburg and currently based in Turku, Finland.

Exquisite pieces of jewellery art, his works were acknowledged all over the world. Oskar Pihl became the knight, first class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland, two of the three official orders in Finland. What is remarkable, the design of that very Order of the Lion badge was created by no one, but Oskar Pihl himself.

Distinguished pieces of art, created by Oskar Pihl both when working at Fabergé and afterwards are still considered as some of worlds finest jewellery items and treasured by collectors from all over the world.