Hello
Always: Welcome in »925-1000« with your questions.
Let’s start with the inscription »
Minne of Far« = »
Memory of Fa(the)
r«. Given date of
23 October 1891 would be an anniversary: of birth?; of marriage?; maybe time of to be a professional? …
It seems to me that it was a very personally date in that family only — not nationwide. Because the here used formula of words is very familiarly, and not in an “official” tone.
My compliment to your primary attempt’s in research; also for your description, and last but not least on your expressive photos of details and marks! That helps a lot.
Yes, your set is signed with marks of »
Madsen & T. Baagøe« of Copenhagen, Denmark.
»
Madsen & T. Baagøes Electroplet og Nysølvvarefabrik« of Copenhagen, Denmark, was
founded in 1874; (Electroplet = galvanized; og = and; Nysølvvarefabrik = nickel silver).
Their first activity was import of galvanized flatware and hollowware from abroad, e.g. possibly from factories in north of Germany (Koch & Bergfeld, Bremen offered so called »Façonware« from some models of her own model range of flatware and hollowware to Galvanizer’s; hence you could find K&B models with other »maker’s marks« as well).
In
1882 »M&T.B« start to invest in machines and tools for to could produce an own product range. These were galvanized in a workshop, and distributed in Denmark.
In between they had got experience in electro plating. Also their commercial success made it necessary, to have a bigger and well organized production.
1885 was their
new manufactory established in the “
Tordenskjoldsgade 30” of
Copenhagen — with her own electricity, made by a gas motor. In that time it was necessary to be
autarkic; because the
electroplating production process needs an ever permanent stable current. Also they had invested in more and new friction presses, dies and tools.
1888 they’ve had about 40-50 workers in their factory, and about 35 home workers, mainly women for polishing.
Their success made it necessary, to remain autarkic, to have their own drawing office, die and tool maker, lathe operator for spinning parts of hollowware, turner, mounting and solder, grinder, galvanizer, engraver, chaser, and polisher.
By her own productions experience, they made some things better as before, and invented some new methods, which afterwards were patented. In between
they became well known for her products stylistic appearance, and durability of flatware, and hollowware
in all Scandinavian countries.
»
M&T.B« product range of flatware and hollowware model growing out to become a full range.
Your items bear the engraved date of
23 October 1891 — for »
M&T.B« a
period of important soaring, to become an economically strong position:
Still going strong — until 1973 = 99 year.
20 year before, in
1871 Schleswig and Holstein, former parts of Denmark, became part of German Emporium.
Preferred style of German Emporium, and nearly all surrounding countries, was »Altdeutsch« - a hotchpotch of styles; Renaissance of Renaissance, … I personally baptized this »Art Eclecteau«.
Well, also I name it »Art Eclecteau«,
items quality in production details and in their visual appearance
is well done by their chaser and engraver!
Let’s now take a look on several details: In principle it is a system of constructive equal zones with stylistic equal surfaces;
a modular assembly concept.
Base cone = same dimension by creamer and sugar bowl; enlarged that for the coffee pot.
Fluted bottom = same dimension by creamer and sugar bowl; enlarged that for the coffee pot.
Bowl’s truncated cone = same dimension by creamer and sugar bowl; enlarged that for the coffee pot.
Mouth, or drain zone = different form and dimension by creamer and sugar bowl.
Coffee pot gets a neck and head, like as an old styled radio transmission tower. Head’s lower part could be the same as the upper part of the sugar bowl?
Coffee pot’s tap hinged = maybe coffee pots tap was some thing similar as missing tap of sugar bowl.
Spout of coffee pot is singularly = creamer’s spout is singularly too.
Handle’s = same dimension by creamer and sugar bowl; enlarged for the coffee pot.
Techniques:
Base cone’s = lathe made
Fluted bottom’s = maybe also lathe made — hence the “circular” »marks«?
Bowl’s truncated cone = rolled (or maybe cast?).
Mouth or drain zone = lathe made (sugar bowl); cast (creamer’s spout).
Coffee pot’s neck and head: lathe made.
Coffee pot’s and sugar bowl’s taps: lathe made; with cast finials.
Coffee pot’s hinge: maybe cast.
Spout of coffee: cast.
Handles: cast.
All mounted: »hard soldered« with hard-solder or »silver soldered« with silver-solder (look topic:
viewtopic.php?t=11116
Basic material (punches signification in this case):
NS = Nickel silver; a copper-zinc-nickel alloy.
Electro plated with pure silver of 999/1,000 fineness — gram age unknown;
maybe indicated by yet not identified significations of letters or numerical.
Yes, your set is signed with marks of »Madsen & T. Baagøe« of Copenhagen, Denmark. But it could be that your items are made by e.g. Koch & Bergfeld, Bremen; offered as so called »Façonware« to »M&T.B« - imported to, and galvanized in Copenhagen?
The style of »Art Eclecteau« was from about 1848 to 1914 (from about 1896 on parallel to Art Nouveau) en vogue here and there, in Bremen and Copenhagen = it isn’t a »Danish style«; sorry, and these items aren’t »typically Danish« as well.
Kind regards silverport
