end of handmade silver in Schleswig-Holstein

[R ingo]

Hello,
it seems, that from the end of the 19th century the silverspoons in Schleswig-Holstein were not handmade by the silversmithes but factury-made.
I found some spoons which are marked with the mark from several silversmithes and also with the logo from the company Spliedt in Itzehoe (this collection is not complete. It includes only the marks I had at hand) . Interesting is a spoon with the mark from the silversmith Teudt, the logo from Spliedt and the city-mark from Kiel (Nesselblatt). Bernt Zeitzschel wrote, that the city-marks in Schleswig-Holstein are no official marks but every silversmith marked his silver with its own individual version.
When Spliedt is the manufacturer, then the marks from the silversmithes can not be makers-marks.
I think, here is to see the end of silversmithes and their change from a producer to a trader.
It seems, that Spliedt could produce cheaper than the silversmithes. They bought the spoons from Spliedt, marked them with their own mark and sold them then to the people. It would be interesting to know, when this development began.

I would be glad about further informations or advices if I was wrong .

Kind regards,
Ringo

[JAKJO]

Hi,

When Møller, Mathias - Haderslev (German Hadersleben) active 1842-1868, died in 1868, the business was continued by his widow and son Martin.

Hope this helps.

Best regards/JAKJO
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[Theoderich]

hi died 1868 - not 1863?
I have the mark of Mathias Möller - Haderslev [MM]
.

[JAKJO]

Hi,

He died in 1868 according to my source, SCHOUBYE, Sigurd (1982), Sønderjysk Sølv (Silber aus Nordschleswig), Åbenrå: Historisk Samfund for Sønderjylland, Nr 56.

I have never seen his son's mark before. Schoubye does not show or tell the reader about the masters active after 1864 when Northern Schleswig became a part of Prussia, and as such part of the North German Confederation, and from 1871 onwards, part of the German Empire.
After a plebiscite in 1920 Northern Schleswig was reunited with Denmark.

Best regards/JAKJO
.

[R ingo]

Thank you JAKJO for the information,
it is very probably Martin Möller. On a danish website I found a danish lancette-like spoon (with engraved date 1905) from Haderslev with the description "M. Möller and a man-like figure" ("mand lignende figur"). This figure is surely the logo from Splietd. In this context it is important, that my spoon with the M. Möller-mark and the Spliedt-logo is also in danish style.
This shows, that Spliedt´s influence reach until Nordslesvig/Sønderjylland and this company produced several styles for different regions with their own preferences.

When began the factory-made silver the crowding out of the old silversmith family-firms?

Thanks and kind regards,
Ringo
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[silverport]

Hello

«Zeitzschel» & Co. unmasked?!

By time and while, drops by drops, enter collectors and researchers brain worldwide, that from prehistory on there were not only makers and co operations; but also wholesaler and retailer, who have marked pieces before sale.

Problem for many researcher in past («Zeitzschel» & Co.) was, that many were registered as workshop, but had already mutated from workshop to be only a store. And actual researcher’s opinion is: If some body is registered in «Zeitzschel» & Co., he is automatically a «maker».

This phenomenon is already mentioned for GB and USA in several answers on question in «925-1000», maybe by thousand. Now this phenomenon enters by time and while to be come knowledge also on German objects.

I’m still wondering that this knowledge just rise now, and not earlier.

Knowledge of hallmark, maker’s mark system and production methods had to be hold in mind for XIX century; especially for the second halve of that century — with phenomenon that guild system ended.

In case of North German Spoon maker:

Every guild had their rules for fineness of silver objects. On 16 July 1884 was published the law on fineness in German Empire; in force by 1 January 1888.

Many of German factory’s has produced before .750 (12 Lot) fineness.

From 1 January 1888 in German Empire all officially marked items had to be in minimum fineness of .800.

But there were many thousands of spoons, and other items, before produced only in fineness .750!

What should be done with these many thousands of spoons and other items? Be offer to all little workshop — most times UNMARKED with maker’s mark and fineness. These got «maker’s mark» by retailer.

Already young silversmith lost experiences in some production methods, e.g. engraving — it’s seldom to find a conventional engraved spoon; almost monogram, etc. be punched in dot’s only.

My opinion is for second half XIX century on: Whatever item in silver, which has a second full name mark’, this is most times retailers mark.

Kind regards silverport
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[R ingo]

Hello silverport,
I thank You very much for Your help.

It is also a very interesting aspect to understand the economic and social changes of this very dynamic time.
New production-technologies and rising prosperity of the middle classes was the reason, that silver cutlery was affordable for more and more people in this time and it becomes a mass product.

Kind regards,
Ringo
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