Art Nouveau silver brooch - cannot identify makers mark

[Franny]

Hello,

Could anyone out there help me identify this makers mark -I found one reference that said it could possibly be Austrian - I thought maybe it could be German or French. Any info., would be great, thank you.

Apologies for size of the pictures - Have tried to submit thumbnails but had problems doing so.

[georgiansilver]

DEPOSE is usually found on French articles but I do not recognise the mark that would appear to be a scorpion. Best wishes, Mike.

[Franny]

Hi Mike,

I agree that the makers mark does look more like a scorpion especially as the tail turns up, I have searched and searched under both dragonfly, scorpion and other 'insect' assay-makers marks and have yet to come up with anything positive, the design is similar to some of the German nouveau designs but the 'depose' complicates matters - thanks for taking an interest. I will keep plodding on.

Regards....Franny

[admin]

"Depose" was also used on many German pieces of Nouveau and Deco jewelry and the 900 is also indicative of German manufacture. Yours is certainly a wonderful Jugendstil piece, without seeing the dragonfly, which is the maker's mark, I would have guessed it to be by Fahrner. Hopefully someone will come along and identify the maker.
Regards, Tom

[Franny]

Hello Tom,

Thank you for your comments, I will just have to wait and hope that someone out there will recognise the mark eventually, I do have a book with continental assay-makers marks but unfortunately this doesn't give any clues either.

Regards...Franny

[Bahner]

Hi all, an identical piece came up for auction in Munich some time ago. The name of the maker was given as Meyle & Mayer from Pforzheim, Germany. The maker's mark was described as looking like a dragonfly. The mark of M & M as listed in the books is somewhat different though. Now I wonder ... Best wishes, Bahner

[Franny]

Hello Bahner,

Thank you so much for the information, how interesting that there appears to be 2 different marks, the only other reference I have seen so for this mark is in an antiques quide which stated Austrian? The mystery continues and I am still searching, but many thanks I do appreciate your information as it is something to go on.

Regards....Franny

[dnl]

The word DEPOSE is found generally as a French mark that refers to something like a patent. So it would possibly indicate that the design was patented?

[David Johnson]

Hi Franny,
A lovely brooch.
It's a jugendstil piece from Germany certainly by MEYLE & MAYER as already mentioned. It's exactly the area I collect and I'm highly envious!
David

[David Johnson]

Hmmm! Just to be sure I checked up on the only published image of the mark i have for Meyle and Mayer ( silver jewellery designs by N.S Schiffer), it is a bit different. Having no legs and a less curled tail. I still think its this maker but am less certain until i find an alternative version of the mark . Ill look again.
David

[gemsdiver]

Here are two examples of Meyle & Mayer, hope they help.

Andy





Gorgeous brooch btw!