www.925-1000.com

I bought this set of "tea spoons". They look very old to me. I couldn't find the maker of this mark on the internet. Can anyone help please?
Thanks!

»Post coach horn« trade mark = since 1936 »KELTUM« branch for Plated articles of »Royal Van Kempen & Begeer«.

Hello »rinoa2011«

Welcome to the Forum.

To start first with the maker’s mark:

The »post coach horn« trade mark is the mark of the »KELTUM« branch, which was started in 1936 for plated articles. »KELTUM« was an alternative offer to the market by the Silver wares producer »Royal Van Kempen & Begeer«.

Thus the spoons are made from a non-precious metal alloy as basic material; then they’ve been plated and prepared in an »Antique Silver« finish.

It seems to me, that they aren’t cast, but die stamp produced.

Now I tell you a little bit of the ‘background’ of use:

The Dutch are very friendly, not only to members of the family. In The Netherlands it’s usual that the guests (it doesn’t matter being family or not) being asked very soon: »Mag je well een kopje kofie?« (Do you like a cup of coffee?). Then after they ask: »Met een gebakje of een snoep?« (With a cake or a sweet?).

If you are the only guest, then there isn’t any problem — but if there are more, like a party, then a differentiation is need. On that background raised in The Netherlands the custom that on each saucer is placed a differing spoon.

Those are e.g. spoons with flowers, like yours, persons in different habits, buildings, national remembrances, souvenir spoons …

I haven’t a catalogue of »KELTUM«, so I couldn’t tell you what kind of spoons you’ve. Normally this form of spoon’s bowl is the form of an »egg spoon«. If the bowl is shallow, then the spoon is an »ice spoon«.

Even so I couldn't tell you the age of yours spoons - I guess: Second half XX century.

You haven’t mentioned the dimensions (e.g. length). Usually there are differentiations between coffee spoons and teaspoons - coffee spoons are almost shorter (for cup’s), and teaspoons almost longer (for tea glasses).

But really: Yours tea would never been spoiled if you use an egg spoon for to stir!

Now a little bit history of the producers:

Johannes Mattheüs van Kempen (I), single son of Pieter van Kempen and Margaretha van Sweringen, born in Utrecht 1764, started 1777 his silversmith apprenticeship by the silversmith Den Briter. 1789 he became master silversmith, with his own mark — hence the usual founding date of »Royal Van Kempen & Begeer«.

Johannes Mattheüs van Kempen (I) two sons Pieter Johannes van Kempen en Johannes Mattheüs van Kempen (II) became also being silversmithes.

1841 for reason of their work of high quality, they became the Royal Courts permission to use the Royal shield; and in June 1858 they started a new factory — there fore the Dutch King Willem III granted them the company’s name »Koninklijke … Van Kempen« (»Royal … Van Kempen«).

The »Royal Van Kempen« remained in possession of the van Kempen family. When Johannes Mattheüs van Kempen (III) has died in 1877, his successor was his son Johannes Mattheüs van Kempen (IV). In between »Royal Van Kempen« was grown out to be a Dutch producer of a broad range of factory made silverwares.

Anthonie Begeer, descendant of a pipe makers dynastie from Gouda, was a mint die engraver in the Royal Mint of Utrecht. But in 1879 his brother Carel Joseph Begeer has died, and he had to become the succession as director of the »Koninklijke Utrechtse Fabriek van Zilverwerken«. Some times later he has married his brothers widow, Margje Johanna Straver.

Their son, Carel Joseph Anton Begeer, born in Utrecht, 15 October 1883 — has died in Voorschoten, 12 November 1956, became a much sounded professional education as silversmith in The Netherlands and abroad. In 1904 he became Art Director of his fathers »Koninklijke Utrechtse Fabriek van Zilverwerken«. In 1908 he became co-ownership; and in 1910, when his father has died, he became director.

After the First World War, in 1919 the »Koninklijke Utrechtse Fabriek van Zilverwerken« has fusing in a merger with »J.K. van Kempen & Zonen« (»... & Sons«) to become »Koninklijke Nederlandsche Edelmetaal Bedrijven Van Kempen, Begeer en Vos» - in short: »K.N.E.B.« (Royal Dutch Precious Metal Factories ...).

After a reorganisation in 1925 are Carel Joseph Anton Begeer, together with D. Vos, were the new directors.

Antonius Everdinus van Kempen quit and leave the company. But the name of ‘Van Kempen’ remain being part of company’s new name: Then »Koninklijke Van Kempen en Begeer« (Royal Van Kempen & Begeer).

The latter »GERO« Inc., from Zeist, popular called »Gerofabriek« of M. J. Gerritsen was the successor of the 1909 founded »M. J. Gerritsen & Co«. In 1912 the »Gerofabriek« has started with workforce of 40 workers, to produce cutlery from non-precious metal alloy. This was also documented in their new factory’s name: »Eerste Nederlandsche Fabriek van Nieuw Zilverwerken, voorheen M. J. Gerritsen & Co« (First Dutch Factory for Nickel-Silver Products, successor of M. J. Gerritsen & Co).

Their two quality system, Nickel-Silver plated = called »Gero-Zilver« and Nickel-Silver polished = called »Gero-Alpacca«, became by time and while very successful, especially when »GERO« enlarged his products range to hollowwares too. There was in between a very big need, especially in the public, for so called »Hotel Silver« (Plated cutlery and hollowwares).

So Antonius Everdinus van Kempen build up, together with his former concurrent Gerritsen, from Zeist, another merger: »Gerritsen en Van Kempen«.

The already by »GERO« reported need of Plated products, was in 1936 reason for »Koninklijke Van Kempen en Begeer«, to have also for this market area an ‘answer’ of high quality products. They founded there fore their »KELTUM« branch, and they chose for this line as trade mark the »post coach horn«.

In between all of the above mentioned concoering companies, and some more, are now together under “one roof” in Zoetermeer.

Remark: The website of »KELTUM« is in full only visible with 16:9 screens.

Kind regards silverport

Thank you silverport for the reply. I am very impressed with your knowledge and sense of humor!
The spoons are 4 3/8" long...

Thanks again!

Rinoa2011

Hello »rinoa2011«

Indeed are spoons with a form of bowl like yours, and a length of 4 3/8 inch (= around 11 cm) from several European cutlery producers classified as »egg spoon« - or if they’ve a shallow bowl, as »ice spoons«.

But as I’ve already mentioned, they wouldn’t spoil to enjoy of a cup of tea!

Kind regards silverport

Thanks! Could you give me a web link on the "post coach horn" mark? I was trying to goole it but I couldn't find anything. It would be nice to see another sample. If you have pics, could you post one?

Thanks again,
Rinoa2011

Thank you!
Rinoa2011