Isaac Manheim – Silver Importer and Musician
I believe (although pure conjecture on my part) that he was a seller of small Dutch import silver. All the pieces I could find with his mark through various auction houses/sites and references would easily fit into a pocket. I could not find any shop or store front where he operated and he is not listed in the London Silversmith guides I have (Marks of London Goldsmiths & Silversmiths – John Fallon – or listed on the research being carried out on Grimwades book - as he did not make silver).
I have found an Isaac Manheim who lived at 37 Alfred Place, Fitzrovia in 1881 and 6 Grafton Place in 1901 just by the side of the British Museum. He was born in Alkmaar, Netherlands around 1846 which would fit with his importing only Dutch silver. He was married to an English girl named Betsy (from Middlesex) and had they had 2 daughters, Christina and Flora. His profession is listed as Musician and as such may have sold small objects on his travels.
The house at Alfred Place appears to have been owned by Isaac but he rented out rooms to a number of lodgers – including another musician and an Italian singer. His mother also lived at the house together with two servants.
He had two daughters who were born in Alkmaar, Netherlands in 1877 and 1878.
When they moved to Grafton Place, only his wife and daughter, Flora were living with him at this time. He did however still have one servant and 2 lodgers who were both Dutch.
Floras Children:
Isaac Manheim played the Violin and Flora play the viola. She was the lead at the Winter Ladies Orchestra. One of the lodgers at Grafton Place was Simon Von Lier, a violinist from Holland. He went on to found the Eastbourne Grand Hotel Orchestra. Flora moved to his orchestra as they were having a relationship. They had a daughter, Felicia who was born in 1902 and a further daughter, Beatrix born in 1910. The year Simon and Flora were married. A third daughter, Edora was born in 1913.
In 1927 Simon and Flora split and she went back to the Netherlands and purchased a house in Scheveningen with her daughters.
Both Felicia and Beatrix married. Beatrix’s husband was sent to Auschwitz as was both Felicia and her husband. They did not survive. Beatrix was on the Barneveld List and survived the war with her three sons.
The third daughter Edora (Dori) immigrated to the US in 1938 where she married. She died in 2004.
I have yet to find out further information about Isaac but will continue looking.