17th C German Augsburg Spoons

[echo801]

Hello.
I have two spoons that I have been told are 17th C Augsburg.
I wonder if you could have a look at the photos and let me know if this is considered to be accurate: and if so who the maker "B" might possibly be.
Many thanks.

[Theoderich]

I am not sure about the "Augsburg" mark.
Have You a better image from this mark?


http://diglit.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/digl ... 22bd1/0065

[echo801]

I am not sure about the "Augsburg" mark.
Have You a better image from this mark?


http://diglit.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/digl ... 22bd1/0065

Thank you for the link.
Looking at the shape of the "pips" I think the mark seems to match no.159, 1655-1660.
I have no German, but have looked at the Markenregister and found 4 references to the monogram B: however, when looking through Verzeichnis der Goldschmiedenamen I could only find a connection between the monogram "B" and 1355 - Ernsting, Dan Alb (St.).
Any further help, opinion or guidance gratefully received.

[Theoderich]

I think that it is not the same mark as Nr 159 in the book.
In the book is white top and black bottom. On your spoon, it is inversely.
looking there
http://www.auktion-bergmann.de/Auktion/ ... l/0032.jpg

Nr. 1355 is a maker from Bremen - not from Augsburg.
But in Rosenberg not all masters be listed.

[echo801]

So do you think the mark is for Augsburg or do you think it is another city's mark?
If it is Augsburg do you have any suggestions for the maker's mark "B"?

[Theoderich]

If there are no forgeries or pseudomarks, then spoon in fact, from the 17th or 18th century. I'm no expert and I have no experience with this kind of spoon shape. But I can show you an interesting page about the development of English spoon, which has compiled a friend collector.

http://silberpunze.si.funpic.de/Dokumen ... OONS%20Rev.[1].pdf

[agphile]

Theoderich drew my attention to this post since when I have been hoping somebody with better knowledge of early spoon styles in continental Europe might comment as I am afraid my thoughts might be disappointing.

The spoons look to me very much like the sort of items made in Hanau and in the Netherlands in the late 19th/early 20th centuries in “antique” styles and marked with “pseudo” marks.

On points of detail, I would have expected the cast handle of a 17th century Augsburg spoon to have been modelled in the round rather than to have a flat back, even for a spoon intended just for display, and perhaps to have been more finely finished. The bowl shape seems to me to be out of period for this style of spoon. And on a 17th century spoon I would have expected the drop or short “rattail” on the back of the bowl to be more like an elongated “v” ,ending in a point.

I am sorry to be casting these doubts. Possibly others who have seen more early Augsburg spoons can tell me I am wrong.