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I recently purchased the illustrated item, a large spoon, but have been unable to identify the maker or town. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Peter Bruckmann & Co from Heilbronn

P. Bruckmann & Söhne - Heilbronn - 1907

Trev.

A brief and very subjective history of »Peter Bruckmann & Söhne AG« (1805-1973)

Hello

You’ve requested to get some more information on the history of »Peter Bruckmann & Söhne AG, Heilbronn«.

Sorry, actually I only could offer to you some excerpts out of my brain — because my Archive is fare away.

»Peter Bruckmann & Söhne AG, Heilbronn« was in 1805 founded in Heilbronn by the young, also in Paris educated silversmith Georg Peter Bruckmann (born 1778, died 1850).

Heilbronn, then before a »Reichsstadt« (a town responsible only to the Emperor) had as sign there fore in their coat of arms and as wardens symbols the »Reichsadler« (»Eagle of the Emporium«) — be lucky, that one of the very early examples you own.

Georg Peter Bruckmann’s ancestors were from a Northern part of Germany, and mostly busy as commercials; later one of them, his father, was becoming citizenship of Heilbronn. He was also a silversmith.

After his apprenticeship, Georg Peter Bruckmann was interested to learn more, to become a real fine silversmith; and he moved to Paris — in Western Europe of that time, the leading centre of Arts, and especially that of »Applied Arts«.

In the Paris »Academy Julian« he learned to sketch quicker and draw more precise; to be very informative as well.



But the almost important of his future: He learned their too, to engrave dies of steel, for mints, medals, and decorative applications. Here I show you one of by him engraved appliqué; used on the stems finial of a soupspoon of him.
Background was the over winning over Napoleon — an »Angle of Peace« (a curiosity is: Angles »miniskirt« = 150 years in advance of Rudi Gernreich’s »miniskirt« introduction in the Western World of Fashion).

His first workshop he started in a companionship, which was baptized: Seeger & Bruckmann — their first book of accounts has survived.

But shortly after, their companionship was changed; then baptized: Peter Bruckmann & Cie. Maker's marks: »P.B&C.«; »P:B&C.«; »P.BRUKMANN&C» ...
[The last example from around 1820, with the missing »C«, I've in my collection]

Georg Peter Bruckmann was after a short time not only a master silversmith, but also a very well known engraver. In about 1810 he saw his chance in making decorative applications in form of serial productions for his colleagues. So you could find a coffee pot of colleagues, crowned by a sculptured squirrel, the spout as an eagles face, neck and throat.

His place of workshop was changed; by time and while he grow out, to become a manufactory. Georg Konrad Weitbrecht, Georg Peter Bruckmann’s 18 years younger friend was often visitor of him and his family’ — many sketches are telling from this family’s friendship. Alfred Krupp was one of his technical advisers and suppliers, when he passed on his travels between Essen and Austria.

The use of a steam engine was “blocked” by veto of his neighbours — panic of exploding machines was the reason. An Anglican priest, James Stirling invented for same reason his ingenious »Stirling Motor«.

Georg Peter Bruckmann, grown up in “atmospheres” of »Law and Order« on one hand, and of »Mercantilism« on the other, in Paris confronted with their political changes, educated especially his sons, to be Liberals, under their own responsibility. His manufactory was then baptized: »Peter Bruckmann & Söhne«

He had very inventive sons, busy at home in Heilbronn, in America and Russia as well. At home in jail for their Liberalism, in America General Schurz companion, in Russia constructing Railways.

1850 Georg Peter Bruckmann has died. His inheritors inherited a growing and flowering hollowware and flatware manufactory.

In between their maker’s mark for silver wares was the »Eagle with spread wings and legs [legs without holding Emperors insignia]« in a circle cartouche; and for plated flatware the »Locomotive« - that was about 1855, 50 years after be founded.

His grandsons looked out for a terrain, not so fare away from town’s centre, to could enlarge their production facility’s. Look to the advertising of 1907, a century after the time of the little workshop of »Seeger & Bruckmann«.

Began the »Applied Art« of »Bruckmann« by Georg Peter Bruckmann themselves, later assisted by Georg Konrad Weitbrecht (1796-1836). The so called »Werksatelier« grow out — Atelier chefs of several periods and influences were Louis Fauser, Adolf Amberg, Carl Stock, Josef Michael Lock …

In between had Peter Bruckmann (1865-1937), grandson and one of the co-owners of »Peter Bruckmann & Söhne AG«, after an intensive Art education, from 1887 on the responsibility. So it doesn’t wonder that he was 1907 one of the initiators of the »Deutscher Werkbund«, a selected members association of artists, architects, applied art producers …

The period of the German »Jugendstil« (»Art Nouveau«) was one of »Bruckmann« company’s famous "high noon" periods. For the »World Exhibition« in Paris 1900, they developed their flatware model 2401, Iris flower inspired — that is maybe the Globes ever largest flatware model of dining parts and servers?

But as ever, style follows of style — the First World War was an abrupt brake. Developments for a future without »Jugendstil« were interrupted — look to the topic: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=20804

After years of psychological and economic depressions in Germany, and huge amounts of war debts, hope raised that inventively workforce could be the way out of the dump.

»bauhaus« clarity contra »show-off« - »Bruckmann« in between the “vice”.

Well, the price of silver was in decline, when in 1937 Peter Bruckmann died. 100 gram plated silver was then the "high end standard".

The company was well settled; the family had competent members to manage the next period.

In their »Jugendstil« period has had »Bruckmann« a bunch of collaborating artists; now one of their centre point artists was Josef Michael Lock.

But there came the period of WWII — all German metal ware factories were obliged with their production knowledge and machines to contribute for the »Endsieg«. Bombings of the Allied Forces were the logic result.

»Rising out of the “ashes”« - new model were created, produced, and sell around the Globe.

But the next manager generation of European silver ware producers looked out for possibilities of concentration, co-operations …

And there were finance chiefs who calculated in between more the value of terrains, then the other values …

»Bruckmann« was buy by »GERO N.V.« - the terrain is now Heilbronn townhall area. The production was replaced to the neighbouring town Neckarsulm.

»GERO N.V.« was already before a risk company — the »Bruckmann« terrain was their refinancing tool.

But so the »cow« don’t come from the »ice« - 1973 »GERO N.V.« bankruptcy kills also »Bruckmann«.

Some production elements, like e.g. copyrights, dies … were buy e.g. by Otto Kropp, Burgdorf (near Hannover) and Gebrüder Reiner, Krumbach (near Augsburg).

Some items now are ending in the smelting pot - and the Antique market is happy: Some »Bruckmann« items become more and more a status of to be »Rare!«

Literature (in German; maybe some explanations in English?): Catalogue »Silber aus Heilbronn für die Welt : P. Bruckmann & Söhne (1805 - 1973)« ISBN 3-930811-90-1

Kind regards silverport

Hi Silverport,

Wow! That's some information, thank you for your very comprehensive report.

You say it's an early mark, can you give me some idea of how early.

Thanks again for your input.

Regards,

Top Cat

an Beter Bruckmann [PB] about 1820, [HB] = Heilbronn

an other Hallmark of Heilbronn

Heilbronn »Eagle« in an incised clipped edges cartouche = around 1810?

Hello Top Cat

To date your large spoon in an early period of Georg Peter Bruckmann is only my subjective interpretation of marks = warden marks and maker’s marks I’ve seen, or I own, or I’ve made my own notices there fore (of seen date engravings).

The old German town and warden marks, and maker’s marks guide, popularly called »Rosenberg«, has, based on research results of G. Pazaurek, published in 1912, registered in the 3rd edition, volume II, page 160, nr. 2534: Heilbronn warden mark »HB« = early XVIII century; nr. 2535: fineness mark »13« [similar as yours] (13 Lot = 812.5-1,000) = XIX century.

In the 3rd edition, volume II, page 161, nr. 2542 is a very brief history on [Georg] Peter Bruckmann; nr. 2543, and nr. 2544 documentation (printed collection of by Georg Peter Bruckmann available appliqué).

In the 3rd edition, volume II, page 162, nr. 2545, and nr. 2546 examples of signage as maker’s mark the by »Theoderich« first shown incise eagle (looking, in terms of heraldry, to the “right”); there the example is dated 1846.

In the 3rd edition, volume II, page 162, nr. 2547, and nr. 2548 examples of signage as maker’s mark the on your spoon shown eagle, in an incised clipped edges cartouche (looking, in terms of heraldry, to the “left”); not dated.

For final is there in the 3rd edition, volume II, page 162, nr. 2549 as maker’s mark of »P. Bruckmann & Söhne« [= very long before 1850; 1850 Georg Peter Bruckmann has died] described an »Adler« (»Eagle«); dated: 1902, or earlier.

My own examples, e.g. the miniskirt »Angel of Peace« spoon is by engraving dated 1821, has as fineness mark a »13.« in an oval, as maker’s mark »P:B&C«, and as “second maker’s mark” (?) the Heilbronn »Eagle« (looking, in terms of heraldry, to the “right”), in an incised circular cartouche; see there fore the following picture:



Now I explain you, why I guess that there must be hold in mind also some doubts on »R3« (»Rosenberg, 3rd edition«) and Gustav Pazaurek’s examples:

Georg Peter Bruckmann was, and that could be said with complete certainty (!), an experienced and famous steel die engraver!

Would somebody as he was engrave the letters of his maker’s marks with correctness — and engrave his in »R3« (and by G. Pazaurek) stated “second maker’s mark” like as a “first week apprentice”? The »Eagle« like as a »show-up cock«!

No, no, no!

That the “maker’s mark” of »P. Bruckmann & Söhne« [= very long before 1850; 1850 Georg Peter Bruckmann has died] described as an »Adler« (»Eagle«), must be dated 1902, or earlier?

A similar mark, as here above is mentioned, you could already see on the stems backside of the miniskirt »Angel of Peace« spoon.

But that spoon is dated by engraving: »1821.«

If you look to this example of an »Eagle« - isn’t he not more “elegant” as the other “cock’s”?

Well, it’s my own theory, and very subjective interpretation:

The Heilbronn »HP« warden mark of mid XVII century, and »HB« warden mark of early XVIII century, were followed up by the, from me disrespectful baptized Heilbronn “cock’s”.

Georg Peter Bruckmann was then after 1805 in his first own professional phase — and, as I remember, started 1810 (maybe already earlier?) with the professional steel die engravings and production of his offer of appliqué.

He wasn’t warden — maybe never?

Could it not be happen, that once the Heilbronn “cocks” were worn, the Heilbronn Guild has requested Georg Peter Bruckmann to engrave new warden marks, for to could replace the old and worn ones?

Later, when the Heilbronn Guild was in decline, and has ceased, Georg Peter Bruckmann adopted the Heilbronn »Eagle« (in a circular cartouche) to be company’s mark of »Peter Bruckmann & Söhne«?

This kind of adaptation has often happen in Germany — as I’ve observed until yet (well without a sounded research [because I’m not a historian; I’m a designer]), the Guild’s symbol has got almost the most respected member of a Guild as his future maker's mark.

By the way, you would be wonder, how many versions of the »Bruckmann Eagle« in reality are existing.

Here you could find the source of »R3«:

Volume I:
http://diglit.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/digl ... erg1922bd1
Volume II:
http://diglit.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/digl ... berg1922ga
Volume III:
http://diglit.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/digl ... erg1925bd3

Well, only by sounded research could yours spoon be dated more exactly as my very subjective guess.

Maybe in the already mentioned catalogue »Silber aus Heilbronn für die Welt« is there fore a sounded explanation? My catalogue is fare away, some where.

Kind regards silverport

Hi Silverport,

Thanks for all the info. I guess I'm going to go with 19th century, possibly aound 1850.

Top Cat