Pre-1886 Greifenberg/Pomerania silver. Who is maker VIEDT?

[MLF]

Hello forum,
Here is another pre-1886, German ladle:


It is 15 1/2 inches long, somewhat dented in the bowl but in otherwise good condition. The handle is engraved with a zig-zag pattern, marked '12' for the 750/1000 standard and also bears the griffen mark for Greifenberg (or some other city in Pomerania: in the old days, the griffen was thought to be nesting in Northern Europe; specifically in the Pomerania region, where many place names still allude to this mythological beast). And finally I have an old German piece that is marked with the maker's name!


I wonder if any of you can help me date this piece and/or happen to know anything about the maker, Viedt?

Thanks and best wishes
Mikael

[MLF]

Oops - the correct spelling of the beast is of course GRIFFIN (although it seems griffon and gryphon are also acceptable). I must have been staring at the name Greifenberg when I wrote the post above... Best wishes, Mikael

[Bahner]

Hello, the griffin in this form was used by several German cities, including Stargard and Greifswald in Pomerania and Greiffenberg (the one in Silesia). There is only one Viedt documented in Pomerania: C. Viedt in Kammin, founded in 1837 and active well into the 20ieth century. Kammin had its own city mark, which is not a griffin, but the figure of a bishop. So if this is the Viedt mentioned, he either acted as a retailer here or he made this himself, but had it hallmarked elsewhere (which does not make too much sense). Best wishes, Bahner

[MLF]

Hello Bahner, and thanks for sharing your insights (again). This is extremely helpful. I guess I'll tentatively assume that Viedt was the retailer then.

Thanks again and best wishes

Mikael