Old Dutch silver spoon

[Dendriet]

In the early morning to day,I found this spoon in Liege.
The seller offered it as an old spanish spoon. (sure)
Immediately bought it,, with my poker face.
No time to find out everything, but already knows where it belongs.

Kind Regards
Dendriet

[oel]

Hi Dendriet,

The 5 pointed star, city guild mark for the city of Maastricht in the province of Limburg. Date letter H for the time period: 1776-1778. Maker’s mark, ING Crowned for: Johannes N. Gilissen, registered 1772-1799.
And we also see a French hatchet; the poinçon de vieux, poinçon de hazard or second-hand mark.The French mark was struck tax free on objects with valid hallmarks.When an old object returned to the trade, in accordance with the French rules 1798-1809 it had to be re-submitted to the assay office for verification of the marks. When it proved that the marks on the object were still valid, the French hatchet was struck as a formality free of all charges, whereupon the object could be sold.


Oel.

PS. The separated city mark and date letter indicates; 1st standard or grote keur for 934 fineness. ( 2nd standard or kleine keur, combined city mark and date letter in one shield).

[Dendriet]

Hi Oel,

Thanks for your clear and interesting response

It is indeed Johannes Nicolaus Gilissen.
He was baptized in Maastricht July 10, 1747 and deceased in August 17, 1813

The craft artistry and craftsmanship of the Maastricht driven silversmith guild centuries have standing out far into Europe a great reputation.

In 1830 went largely with the fleeing patrlciers families to Belgium.
Some time before that year disappeared most Maastricht silverware in the melting pot of the French or were stolen by plundering Spaniards.

Therefore Maastricht silver has become extremely rare
There is less than 10 percent on everything they have geproduceed

Best Regards
Dendriet

(I hope my english is a bit obvious)

[oel]

Hi Dendriet,

Maastricht’s history in a nut shell

Maastricht, an old Catholic stronghold and perhaps even the oldest settlement and city in the Netherlands. The important strategic location of Maastricht resulted during the ages in the construction of an impressive array of fortifications around the city.
In 1579, when Spain ruled the Netherlands, the city of Maastricht was in the hands of Dutch rebels. In 1579, on the 12th of March, the Spanish General Alexander Farnese started to lay siege to the city with his army consisting of 20,000 men. The same year, on June 29th, the city was conquered and ransacked for more than three days, looting by the Spanish soldiers, citizen were raped and killed, blood and treasure lost including most of Maastricht’s silver. Famiano Strada (Rome, 1572 - there, June 9, 1649) a Jesuit priest, historian and moralist, estimated the value of the booty, more than one million guilders.
Maastricht was occupied by the Spanish troops for 53 years. In 1632 the city was conquered by Frederick Henry the protestant Prince of Orange. His victory brought a certain degree of stability and introduced a new era of religious tolerance. The citizens of Maastricht had suffered tremendously during all sieges of their town but now Protestants and Catholics could coexist in some sort of harmony. In 1634 Maastricht came under tread of another Spanish siege and church & citizens were summoned by the Magistrate of Maastricht to hand over their silver & gold, in order to make coins, to pay for the extra costs to defend the city.

French troops occupied Maastricht from 1673 to 1678. From 1748 till 1749 the French once again conquered the city. The French took the city one last time in 1794 and Maastricht was annexed to the First French Empire. In 1795, the Old Regime of the Dutch republic under William V, Prince of Orange fled to the safety of England. History reveals that in general the Dutch citizen were not against the French and welcomed the later intoduced Napoleonic Code ‒ or Code Napoléon; the French civil code established under Napoléon I in 1804. The code forbade privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs should go to the most qualified. These laws reflected the spirit of the French Revolution, and essentially liberated the common people of Europe and ended the Old Regime. Today the Civil Code forms the basis of many European legal systems.
After the Napoleonic Wars, the allies set to work to redraw the map of Europe. The solution they came up with for the Netherlands was to build a new united state combining Belgium and Holland to form a strong buffer to the north of France. This union did not last long. In 1830 the Belgians rose against the monarch and government of the north and declared their independence. Geographically Maastricht should have become a part of Belgium, but the garrison under General Dibbets remained loyal to the house of Orange. And in 1839, to the discontent of the Belgians, the province of Limburg was partitioned with Maastricht remaining in Dutch hands.

Yes, 16th century Maastricht’s silver is extremely rare, perhaps late 18th century silver to a lesser extent. I agree that Maastricht silver, bearing the old guild marks are hard to come by and I believe most is in the hands of private collectors and museums.
You should treasure your spoon made in Maastricht, great find!

Best,

Oel.

[Dendriet]

Hi Oel,

Thanks for the detailed information.

Today, I was in Teploux, bought beautiful silver.
Tomorrow to Poulseur and Cérexhe-Heuseux.
Spoon Maastricht, I wanted to share with you.
Normally, only those Hallmarks who are unknown to me.

Best Regards
Dendriet