unknown mark

[Heyday]

Hello,

I´m searching for the producer of this cutlery. It might be produced at the end of the 19. Century.
The picture is not so good. The mark is a W. with crown, halfmoon and 800.

Thanks for your help and excuse my bad english.

Heyday

[silverport]

W = Rud. Weichhardt Berlin.

Hello »Heyday«

Welcome to the Forum.

In the German silver maker’s marks history were some manufactures which have used an only incised single capital letter W as their maker’s mark indication.

In 1903 (that time span seems to me to be congruent with yours cutlery) is as cutlery maker, using a single W, registered in an Address and Handbook for Professionals:

Weichhardt, Rudolf, Berlin SW.,
Ritterstrasse 73 (1851.) Fabrikation von
Gross- und Klein-Silberwaren. Bestecke.
Kirchengeräte. Getriebene und ciselierte
Arbeiten.

Translation:

Rudolf Weichhardt, Berlin South-West,
Ritterstrasse 73 (founded 1851) Production
of big and little silver hollowware’s. Cutlery.
Religious items. Hand wrought and chased
works.

The cutlery pattern is in principle a traditional one of the so called »Baguette« pattern; with accentuated details, as like the style of the knives haft individual finial.

It could be that the cutlery was made for an in Berlin residing Noble, like a Baron?

Kind regards silverport

[Heyday]

Hello Silverport,

thank´s for your help.
I´m searching for this info for a long time. The time period around 1903 is matching with the living-period of the one ancestor, who let it be manufactured.

But the information, who manufactured it has gone lost in our family.

You can see our coat of arms at the front with the Freiherrn (Baron)-Crown, so you are right concerning to this.

Thank you for your help once again, now we can go forward seaching for some more cutlery-pieces like ours.

Regards,
Heyday

[silverport]

Hello »Heyday«

I don’t know in which time periods you like to add cutlery items to the existing ones — which details are private, and of course you must not tell me.

By my knowledge I must state, that you would need many years for a successful hunt. But if the additional items should be »servers«, then it could be between one day (if you’ve luck) and more then ten years.

Because the Rudolf Weichhardt factory was an all-rounder — cutlery production was only one of their manifold activities.

Another factor of difficulty could be: The gauge of the items; I interpret that yours cutlery could be made in a “medium heavy” gauge = 12 table spoon, or 12 table forks are made from 1,000 gram silver alloy = ca. 83 gram per piece. For the “normal” gauge is used 800 gram — and for the “heavy” gauge (e.g. for the Russian market) is used 1,200 gram.

The German Nobility has preferred the “medium heavy” gauge — very seldom the “heavy” gauge.

I’ve looked through my archive of German pattern which I’ve here. There I’ve found only in the Koch & Bergfeld pattern range of 1884 some thing similar pattern: 5300.

All the other consulted catalogues from Bahner, Bruckmann, VSF, Wellner (yes, they’ve made also cutlery from silver alloy), Wilkens were without nearly similar pattern — even not J.C. Klinkosch of Vienna. But the Austrian, Belgium, French and Italian pattern differed much more in details; e.g. their measuring.

An advice:

Make some (maybe double folded) cards with illustrated notices on important details, like e.g. finials of forks and spoons, knifes, length … for yours wallet. If you’ve friends which travel around — maybe one or another would like to help you too?

Yours hunting season would be a long lasting one; but it isn’t hopeless!

Success!

Kind regards silverport

[Heyday]

Hi,
once again thank you very much for your help and all the Infos.

The complete set is for 24 persons. But it was divided in 3 parts years ago.
I have one part. I have only found one piece, a fork,on eBay! I just thought, it might be easier when i know the factory.

I will keep my eyes open, i think most of the Time we are not more than 8 persons at home!

Thanks and regards,

Heyday

[Heyday]

Hi,
once again thank you very much for your help and all the Infos.

The complete set is for 24 persons. But it was divided in 3 parts years ago.
I have one part. I have only found one piece, a fork,on eBay! I just thought, it might be easier when i know the factory.

I will keep my eyes open, i think most of the Time we are not more than 8 persons at home!

Thanks and regards,

Heyday

P.S.
You are right concerning the weight! It is 81 gr. ;-)