Franz Bahner spoon, looking for informations about pattern

[R ingo]

Hello,

I have a nice spoon from FRANZ BAHNER and I would be glad if someone can give me some informations (name and age) of this pattern.

Kind regards,

Ringo

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[silverport]

Hello Ringo

Franz Bahner AG (former maker’s mark: left side looking lions head, in profile), after First World War became 100 % owned by Montanan Industry Group »Mansfeld AG« - hence the from then on usual maker’s mark of »Hammer und Schlägel« = mark of crossed hammers, with a hammer, and a miner’s hammer. First time, horizontally placed, left side of the cross point, a grotesque capital letter F (F = Franz), and right side of the cross point, a grotesque capital letter B (B = Bahner). From about 1925 on (725 anniversary of »Mansfeld AG«) vertically placed, upper side of the cross point, a grotesque capital letter M (M = Mansfeld), and lower side of the cross point, a grotesque capital letter S (S = Silver).

That is one of the indicators, when marked object was made, and struck — but that isn’t in each case also indication of design’s timeframe!

Henry van de Velde’s »Modell III«, designed about 1906-1908, was hand wrought by Koch & Bergfeld, Bremen; later machine made by Franz Bahner AG from about 1910 on — then it has got the Bahner model number 10400.

Gebhard Duve’s, around 1930 introduced, and well known model, with his modern interpretation of 19 century cutlery production principles, has got the Bahner model number 17700 = 20 year distance.

I don’t know any name, any time given by Franz Bahner for their cutlery!

After WWI it became very usual in Germany, to baptize also old, and new model by a name of a woman, a hero, a history, a town … There were for final in use of about 600 different names; some of them in use by more then two different companies for different models = more then 900 different model of cutlery had got a “name”, instead of numerals.

Many companies resisted, and have used furthermore only numerals. Reason e.g. was the need of quick communication for orders — with numerals it was much easier, and telegram costs weren’t so expensive for her trade agents.

Actually I couldn’t tell you the model number of your little spoon — because missing my archive, and a Bahner catalogue of their different model of cutlery.

This model would be part of the new tendencies for a »clean« style in cutlery in Germany — before the »bauhaus«, and »Burg Giebichenstein« was founded, and then after the »Art déco« has got majority.

These tendencies were already existent, long before 19 century was ending — I would report on these developments later separately. Maybe then I would find also the model number of your little spoon?

I think, for resume I could state already now: »Werksentwurf« (Factory design), around WWI — made after 1925.

Kind regards silverport
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[silverport]

Hello again

What has remained there, were all these by collectors much appreciated objects were made?

Vollmerswerther Strasse 80-86, Düsseldorf, Province North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

An area promotion, and some other insurance offices — and a kindergarten next to there, full of future!



A silversmith — relief in stone; maybe placed there by Mansfeld Silver Holding, around 1925.

Kind regards silverport
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[R ingo]

Hello silverport,

I thank you very much for your help and interesting historical informations.

Kind regards,

Ringo
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[R ingo]

Hello,

I forgot to write, that the bowl of the spoon has an interesting unusual form. I made a photo of it. May be it helps.

Kind regards,
Ringo

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[silverfan]

The spoon has the Model No. 12300 and was designed by Prof. Hübner in about 1903. The mark "lion's head" was abandonned when the Mansfeld group took over Franz Bahner in 1917 and replaced by "M crossed hammers S". The Mark "F crossed hammers B" was only used for plated items.

[silverport]

Bahner Pattern 12300 was first published in 1913, in »DGZ«, nr. 16, p. 70.

Hello Ringo et all

Reinhard Sänger report in his publication *, based on an intense research activity, that indeed the here shown pattern is based on designs of Prof. Hübner [his identity by his initials, or by his christian name is actually not known]. That was the first pattern from Bahner in a modern cutlery style. It’s assumed that the first design there fore was made around 1911 * — not in about 1903. That has to be seen also in relation to general tendencies in style of that time period — but also in relation to competitors.

I’m fascinated that herewith, maybe first time, also the spoons front tip was especially designed = to be lips friendly — like a fish’ mouth.

Maybe for reason of pattern registration, the next following design, which bowls tip of spoons have the same »fish’ mouths« is the 1931 Jubilee pattern »2910« of the »Henckels Zwillingswerk«, of Solingen, designed by Prof. Fritz August Breuhaus de Groot.

Then after, this lips friendly detail seems to be lost totally.

* Reinhard W. Sänger, Das deutsche Silber-Besteck. ... 1805-1918. p. 148-149, nr. 31, pattern 12300.
ISBN 3-925369-10-4

Kind regards silverport

[R ingo]

Hello silverfan and silverport,

I thank you for your help! Please excuse my delayed reply. I didn't expect, that someone answerd after so long time. So I have not looked in this forum for a long time.
I have never heard about Prof. Hübner before. Now I have googeld the name Prof. Hübner in combination with Franz Bahner and get only one result. It was a describing from a swiss auction house:
"Drei Löffel, deutsch, Franz Bahner AG. Düsseldorf. Nach einem Entwurf von Prof. Hübner, 1911", sadly without a photo of the spoons.

Thanks and kind regards,
Ringo