Tottie & Arfwedson

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Tottie & Arfwedson is a former Swedish trading company. The company was based in Stockholm at Skeppsbron 8.

history

The company was founded in 1772 by Anders and Thomas Tottie and Carl Cristopher Arfwedson (1735–1826). Arfwedson, the nephew of Charles Tottie's wife Maria Arfwedson (1705-1791), ran the company. After Anders Tottie's death, the Arfwedson family continued the business. From 1772 to around 1820, Tottie & Arfwedsson was the largest trading house in Stockholm with around 23% of Sweden's total export volume. In addition, Tottie & Arfwedson was the largest iron exporter in Stockholm and one of Sweden's largest trading houses in the late 1700s.

Tottie & Arfwedson was primarily an export company, but it was also one of Stockholm's main importers for a number of years. Tottie & Arfwedson imported salt, exports mainly to Great Britain and accounted for about 75-85% of total trade. Other trading partners were the Netherlands (around 5% on average), France (around 3–6%) and Portugal (around 3%). The rest related to trade with the Mediterranean region.

Tottie & Arfwedson was also active in iron manufacturing and between 1777 and 1813 had contracts with 42 iron works. Thus, about 4900 tons of iron were produced in 1777, 5300 tons in 1797, 6900 tons in 1806 and 8900 tons in 1813. In 1782, the ScheBo and Ortala smelters (producing 640 tons of iron per year) came into the possession of Tottie & Arfwedson. Shares in the Dannemora mine and a rifle factory in Norrtälje were also held. At times the Dahlfors mine in Dalarna was owned by the trading company. The trading house Tottie & Arfwedson was also a ship owner, in 1779 they held shares in 19 ships. Two ships were 100% owned by the trading company.

Tottie & Arfwedson came into possession of the Carelius Tabak factory through an initially involuntary commitment. Therefore the trading house was also active in the import of tobacco.

On the part of the owner family Arfwedson, Carl Abraham Arfwedson (1774–1861), a son of Carl Christopher Arfwedson, joined the company as a partner in 1808. When his father died in 1826, he took over the management of the company.

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