The company was founded in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway by David Andersen in 1876. Andersen (1843-1901) was a gold and silversmith with a keen sense of quality and 
the high standards of his workmanship brought early success. By 1888, Andersen was able to expand his workshop into a steam powered plant and a second retail location was opened in Oslo in 1892. David Andersen died in 1901 and his son, Arthur Andersen, took the reins of the firm. Arthur instituted some important changes, he decided to hyphenate the family name to David-Andersen, and as chief designer, he introduced the use of enameling on the company’s gold and silver jewelry and holloware. The new line was so successful that enamelled jewelry has become nearly synonymous with the David-Andersen name. The firm has always remained a family business and is now run by members of the fourth generation, Uni and Jon David-Andersen.
The company has kept pace with changing times and artistic trends, they have produced beautiful and finely crafted jewelry and objects in the styles of; Naturalism, Dragestil (Dragonstyle), Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Art Moderne, and Modernism. A few of their early designers include:
Arthur David-Andersen (1875•1970)
Johan Lund (active 1890’s)
Gustav Guadernack (1865•1914)
Guttorm Gagnes (1906•1964)
Ivar David-Andersen (1903•1998)
Thorbjørn Lie-Jørgensen (1900•1961)
