The Original Company Since 1860

 

From a Crofter’s Son to an Internationally Respected House of Goldsmiths

The story of Tillander begins in modest circumstances. The company’s founder, Alexander Edward Tillander, was born the son of a crofter in Finland in the early 19th century. Talent, ambition, and a deep interest in craftsmanship led him to train as a goldsmith and ultimately achieve master status.

In the mid-19th century, Saint Petersburg—the capital of the Russian Empire—was one of Europe’s most important cultural and commercial centers. It was there that Alexander Tillander settled and established his own jewelry business in 1860. The company quickly became known for its exceptional goldsmithing, expertise in gemstones, and technical mastery.

Tillander’s creations combined technical excellence with artistic ambition. Among its works were enamelled Easter eggs, fine gemstone jewelry, silver objects, and other demanding bespoke pieces that represented the highest level of European craftsmanship of their time.

 

Growth, Establishment, and the Trust of the Imperial Court

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tillander had become a well-established and highly respected company in Saint Petersburg. Its clientele included the nobility, the bourgeoisie, and the Imperial Court. The company served as a purveyor to Tsar Nicholas II, reflecting a high level of trust and uncompromising standards of quality.

Tillander was not a single artisan’s workshop, but a structured and growing enterprise employing multiple goldsmiths and master craftsmen. The business expanded, its clientele grew, and the name Tillander became synonymous with quality and professional excellence.

 

The Company Moves to Finland – Continuity of Operations

The Russian Revolution and the political upheavals of the late 1910s reshaped Europe. In these circumstances, Tillander’s business operations were transferred to Finland, where they continued in Helsinki.

This was not the founding of a new company, but the continuation of an existing business in a new environment. The name, expertise, and craftsmanship endured, and the company continued as part of the Finnish goldsmithing tradition.

 

A Responsible Role in Exceptional Times

The turbulent decades of the 20th century placed exceptional demands on companies. During the war years of 1939–1945, Tillander’s expertise in metalwork and goldsmithing was also utilized in official commissions, including the production of decorations and insignia.

This work required precision, trust, and responsibility—qualities that had long defined Tillander’s operations. These commissions represented a different aspect of the company’s capabilities, yet were rooted in the same craftsmanship and quality that had been established in the 19th century.

 

A Company History – Not a Personal or Family Narrative

Tillander’s history is the history of a company, beginning in 1860 and continuing uninterrupted to the present day.

Over the decades, the name Tillander has also appeared in connection with individual goldsmiths and operators in separate, independent contexts. These reflect a broader craft tradition, but are not the same as the original company founded in 1860.

Tillander, as it is known today, is a direct continuation of the original enterprise—a business that has preserved its identity, values, and expertise across generations.

 

Tillander Today

Today, Tillander brings together over 160 years of company history with contemporary design. In every piece lives the same ambition that once defined enamelled masterpieces, imperial commissions, and responsible assignments during exceptional times.

Tillander today is the same company that was founded in 1860—authentic and original.

The story of Tillander continues in the heart of Helsinki, at 37 Pohjoisesplanadi.

---