please help ..

[charles-edwards]

Here I got a fine art nouveau claret jug - its germany - but is the maker - Kühn in schwäbisch Gmund ?

Could please anybony help me ?
thx a lot - C.E.

[silverport]

Claret jug, made by »Gebr. Kühn« (»Unicorn« mark) of Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.

Hello »charles-edwards«

The mark you looking for, is one version of the »Gebr. Kühn« »Unicorn« marks.

By a sounded commercial success, and time and while, nearly all makers’ marks of prolific producers are changing their appearances in details - reason is, that punches were worn by intensive use, and were replaced by newly engraved ones of different experienced steel engravers; or e.g. they were made in a hurry, well then less detailed.

»Gebr. Kühn«, founded in 1860, and their »Unicorn« mark is only one of the many examples in Germany - e.g. »Peter Bruckmann & Söhne«, founded in 1805, is another example with similar problematic.

On 1 May 1862 has start in Württemberg the »Gewerbefreiheit« (trade liberation); and almost Guilds, and their Assay or town marks had ceased or were in decline. So became »Gebr. Kühn« the »Unicorn« mark of Schwäbisch Gmünd, and »Peter Bruckmann & Söhne« the former »Eagle« mark of Heilbronn.

On an item with an early »Unicorn« mark, »JoseppeCo« placed a illustrated question, and I've in my collection a similar mark too; please look here: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=20868

That is now for a collector’s precise documentation attempts often a reason for “headaches”.

Kind regards silverport