Ornate silver purse frame - help with maker ID

PHOTOS REQUIRED - marks + item
naina1st
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:37 pm
Location: Netherlands

Ornate silver purse frame - help with maker ID

Postby naina1st » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:11 pm

Dear member,
Trying internet I have identified (or suppose to have identified) one of 3 marks found on the frame (tested as solid silver). The above mentined mark is not really visible on my photo but looks like the city mark of Leignitz, Germany (two crossed keys in fancy frame). I failed to find any traces of the second mark (in the middle). The right one is the maker mark. No traces as well. I do rely upon the help of the experts. Thanks
Image
Image

blakstone
contributor
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Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:05 am

Postby blakstone » Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:52 pm

The mark on the right is that of J. Kurz & Co. of Hanau, founded 1870 by Johann Sigismund Kurz; the other two marks are pseudo-marks. The company was still in business as late as 1961, but from the style, I would date the frame to the first quarter of the 20th century.

naina1st
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:37 pm
Location: Netherlands

Postby naina1st » Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:43 am

Dear Blakstone,

Thank you so much for very wanted information!
Let me try your patience and knowledge once more with 2 questions.

1. Could you please submit the reference or link to the source of info concerning Johann Sigismund Kurz?

2. I have been reading available info regarding Hanau and wonder why people refer to Hanau marks as pseudo-marks?
When silversmith who make silver plate puts his marks - nobody calls them pseudo. A few American silver manufacturers registered the marks very similar to European silver hallmarks, Gohram in particular.
As far as I learned, Hanau silversmiths used to make their items from solid (without assay control) silver, and the level of craft was high enough to respect their memory. As for me, we should be greatful to them who preserved for us the acient masterpieces in form of Hanau high level replicas. Besides they created a lot of original patterns. I saw also examples of import hallmarks put onto silver articles with Hanau "pseudo-marks". As for me "Hanau marks" is more correct and polite.

Thanks in advance for the comments on above that could be interesting and helpful not only for me but other members as well.


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