WMF Trophy and cover

[norman02]

]Hi there

I was hoping that someone would be able to identify the designer of this piece
Has the usual marks as seen in pic.
The interior is gilded and the cover has an Ivory finial.

Many thanks for looking
norman

[dognose]

Hi Norman,

Welcome to the Forum.

Try to capture a larger, sharp close up image of the two marks on the right.

The first three marks, if you're not already aware, are 'OX' = Oxidized, the WMF maker's mark, and I/O = regular silver coating.

Trev.

[norman02]

Hello Trev.....

Thanks for looking and the reply.

The last mark to the right....somehow i remember was to do with a commissioned piece that was gilded...or something to that effect.
Its the intertwined letters that intrigue me.

regards
norman

[DianaGaleM]

I agree with Trev regarding the meaning of the first three marks. I've never seen the other two marks on a WMF piece, and I suspect they are the retailer's marks, the marks for the event, and/or owner's personal marks.

I can supply you with an image from the 1925/26 WMF Musterbuch (pattern book):


It appears on p. 117, among the Pokale (prize cups):


The piece does not appear in the 1906 WMF "Art Nouveau" catalog.

It seems unlikely you would ever be able to identify the designer of a WMF piece from this time period, when the factory seemed to be cranking out a vast array of items. I count 47 different "Pokale" illustrated in this one catalog, plus 59 different ornaments (e.g., athletes, soldiers, animals, etc.) for the top. I don't start seeing named designers associated with patterns or pieces until after WWII, but then, I don't have much access to the German literature about the company. Perhaps someone who does can be more help along that line.

Diana

[norman02]

Hi Diana

Thank you so much for the image as well as the catalogue.
Interesting that they have no designer to this Pokal....but as y<you say perhaps they just turned production out by the thousands.

norman

[DianaGaleM]

I just checked the WMF 1937 Musterbuch, and your Pokal isn't included, so we have at least some bracket on the time period.

WMF was a huge company, even then, so if you have this image of some master smith in his shop individually producing objects of beauty, that would probably not be the reality. Not that WMF didn't have artistic designers or skilled craftsman, just that I suspect the work was done more on a mass production basis.

Below is an image I have of the factor in Geislingen. It's undated, but with certainty it's from the period when your piece was produced (i.e., between the Wars):

[norman02]

Hi Diana

truly grateful for all the help and information given

norman