Vilhelm Christesen

Frederik Christian Vilhelm Christesen (4 July 1822 – 29 December 1899) was a Danish goldsmith and silversmith. His firm was from 1858 based at Amaliegade 11 in Copenhagen.

Early life and education Christesen was born on 4 July 1822 in Copenhagen, the son of helmsman Anders (or Hans) Christensen (1792-1828) and Vilhelmine Magdalene Augusta Grandjean (1796-1849). The mother moved the family to Slagelse following the father's death in 1825. Christesen was apprenticed to Jacob Kjølstrup in his new home town. On completing his apprenticeship in 1843, he travelled to Bremen as a journeyman to work for Wilkens & Salme.

Career In 1846, he returned to Slagelse and took over his old master's workshop. In 1856, he moved to Copenhagen where he was initially based at Løvstræde 122 (old number). In 1857, he obtained a license to start a silver and gold pressing factory. It was the first enterprise of its kind in the country and soon grew to considerable size. He died on 29 December 1899 and is buried in the Cemetery of Holmen.