Frisian Dutch Silver Birth Spoon w/ many marks

[legrandmogol]

I believe this spoon to be Frisian in origin but I cannot identify the maker. It also has several other marks including at least 2 marks for old and imported wares, possibly a french occupation rooster for 800 silver though this mark is very worn as well as a person (Minerva?) wearing a helmet with the letter S on it. I'm not sure of an assay office that used the letter S. I also don't think the profile is facing in the correct direction. Anyway, if anyone can clear this up for me I would be grateful.

[oel]

Ornamental spoon. Finial the personification of The Faith, it always carries as an attribute a raised cross as a symbol of the Christian faith. Ornamental stem.
The hallmarks of the French empire 1809-1819.

Office mark French departments for silver, regional assay office letter S for assay office in Leeuwarden. Standard mark for departments, rooster above 2, 840/000 silver fineness.

https://www.925-1000.com/Ffrench_marks.html



Later Dutch duty marks for foreign and other untaxed objects; in the middle of the spoon's bowl; large V in crowned shield used 1814-1893. Next to assay office mark, small flowery V, used 1814-1831. V=Vreemd=Foreign.

Crowned V for large items; duty mark for foreign and other untaxed objects used 1814-1893. This duty mark does not give any guarantee of a precious metal standard of fineness. This mark has been used on metal with a 250 minimum silver content as a duty mark. This mark was destined for all imported, unmarked and invalid marked objects of foreign, national and unknown origin. Upon the invalidation of the hallmarks of Louis Napoleon's kingdom of Holland and those of the French Empire in 1816, this mark also has been used as a tax free census mark.

[legrandmogol]

Thanks Peter! I knew you could sort this out. If ever find out who the maker is I'd love to know. I couldn't find this mark in any of my books but sometimes a second pair of eyes makes all the difference.

[oel]

Sorry forgot the maker's mark.

The maker's mark appears to be an acorn under crown for; Dirk Ates Jorritsma, registered in the city of Franeker 1738-1754. Originally the spoon maker's mark only because below first standard (934/000) during Franeker silver guild time. During the French empire the spoon was offered for public sale and had to be re-assayed according French rules, hence the French departmental hallmarks. Again after 1814 Kingdom of the Netherlands 1814-present the spoon came up for public sale hence the duty marks crowned V and flowery V.

https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/stam ... I64303.php

Peter.

[legrandmogol]

Thank you again! The multiple markings were the most appealing thing about this spoon. So, If I am reading this right, there were 3 different instances of this spoon being marked for resale. First the French mark, then the flowery V, then crowned V. Which marking brought the assay office mark?

[oel]

In 1795 The Dutch Republic or the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (The Low Countries) and The Austrian Netherlands, the Prince Bishopric of Liege, Luxemburg and the present Limburg province are conquered and occupied by the French armies and are annexed by the French Republic.
In 1795 Proclamation of the Batavian Republic 1795-1806, a French satellite state and the hallmarks of the French Republic (1795-1804) were introduced. In 1806 the self crowned emperor Napoleon Bonaparte forces the Batavian Republic to accept his brother Louis as King of Holland, Kingdom of Holland 1806-1810. In 1810 Napoleon unhappy with his brother Louis, Napoleon decides to annexe the Kingdom of Holland and to become part of the so called French Empire (1804-1815). In 1813 Napoleons defeat at Leipzig and November 1813 partly liberation of the Low Countries followed by a few years of turmoil and Napoleons final defeat at Waterloo in 1815.

In 1798 the Dutch guilds which existed for ages, were declared abolished but temporarily remain in existence as destroyed guilds until 1807 with the total dismantling of the guilds, and the introduction of office marks and uniform date letter.
See:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=32028#p80300

The assay office mark ( French department city of Leeuwarden) struck when the Netherlands were part of the French Empire,departmental assay office Leeuwarden July 1812-October 1813( Napoleons defeat at Leipzig). Both small and large V, I believe, were struck same time, somewhere between 1814-1831.

Peter.

[legrandmogol]

ok, I see. Thank you for all the info and clarification Peter!