Interesting small ornate box.

[gsmoggy]

Hello Members
I have recently purchased this small box ,It has not arrived yet. It is marked for Hermann Ratzersdorfer 1862.
as I have said before I collect interesting small boxes, I felt this was an interesting one to add to my collection.
I would be interested in members comments .I am assuming it is right and is not a fake(hope not paid an original price)
Some of the stones may have been replaced over the years.








Regards Guido.

[gsmoggy]

Size of box is 7.5cms wide from end of stones 5cms high.

Regards Guido.

[AG2012]

Hi,
Marks look OK, but that`s not enough. The problem is the quality of the box, which really does not match HR excellent craftsmanship seen in every object he made.
Even if several stones have been replaced (meaning settings are distorted during repair), overall aspect of all stone settings is of only average quality.
Nice box, though (if not overpriced just because of HR mark).
Let`s compare with Faberge; overpriced ordinary table silverware just because of F. mark.
Regards

[AG2012]

Just look at this from elsewhere; an ``expert`` says:

Hermann Ratzersdorfer 1843/1881 Vienna Rare 9 Sterling silver tumblers - .800 silver - Austria - Late 19th century
Set of 9 sterling silver liqueur cups
Sterling silver hallmark Austria 800/1000 and silversmith’s mark:
Hermann Ratzersdorfer 1843-1881, Vienna

Pay attention: sterling .800 silver.

Regards

[gsmoggy]

Hello Ag
Many thanks for your comments.
I have not seen any other similar boxes by him anywhere as yet,most of the ones online by him seem to feature mostly very fine enameling .
1862 seems to be earlier in his career ,I would have thought if it was a copy ,what is is a copy of ? I have not received it yet ,it does not look like it has the HR stamp,only the marks on the base ,which seem to match,even though the mark with crown and eagle or bird is a bit faint,
There is in total 30 turquoise ,12 small red,1 large red stones,not sure what red stones are yet. It seems to be in his style ,the small silver inserts into the red stones seems to be a very tricky thing to do, where else it would have been made if not by him is a bit of a mystery.

to put so much effort into such a small thing and put a mark from a bit of an unknown and rare maker would seem strange to me.
I also would have thought that if it was a copy it would have had the HR mark as well ,as that looks very simple to me to copy.

once the stones are examined and tested it may give a clue as to quality of it.

Regards Guido.

[gsmoggy]

Hi Ag
thought you may be interested to see the ends of these enameled ,I forget if the were spoons or forks by Ratzersdorfer. On the A.S.C.A.S silver site.
the silver work I think compares well with my box,I feel,I do not feel his repousse work ,was where his main talent was,as we can see by these caps ,you would not say the work is out standing.
I would be interested what you think about the work on the caps,that were also gilded like my box (gilding worn of in a lot of areas.

Regards Guido.

[AG2012]

Those are finials on knife handles, magnified 5x, otherwise barely visible knobs.
In a word, overall quality cannot be judged based on this.
Regards

[gsmoggy]

Hi Ag
many thanks for you comments .
Could your same theory re magnification also apply to my box,all the images of my box are close ups that have also been magnified a certain amount.

Regards Guido.

[gsmoggy]

Hi Members
I have come across some interesting information about the mark on my box from the MAK museum in Vienna. They have one very small gold and enamel box by him,this box features a small stone in the centre on the red stone that maybe a pearl ,similar to the stones on the red stones on my box.
Also on their site was one of his marks that look like the mark on my box. I would think a very complicated mark to fake or reproduce.

As I still do not have the box all my images are from images that have been sent to me by the auction house and enlarged by me,
so they are not super clear.
You can see (a bit tricky) the HR on the left and right side at the bottom of the mark on my box, as on original mark.

I am very happy to have found this info,it looks like he had many different marks based on the same emblem.
The first image is the mark on my box.
Regards Guido.

[gsmoggy]

Image of pearl? on red stone in center .

Regards Guido.

[gsmoggy]

Hi Members
Not sure if you may be interested,The curator and custodian of the metal collection at the MAK museum in Vienna, Dr Anne -Katrin Rossberg ,has given me her opinion that my box is original and the hallmark is definitely by Hermann Ratzersdorfer.
Which is good news for me ,I still have not received it,not sure if I mentioned there were 27 bids (unfortunately ) before my last bid
So there was a fair bit of interest in it.

In my research on him I have discovered he employed around 30 people,and along with Hermann Bohn (strange same christian name) were the leading figures in the mid to late 1800s in the historistmus style ,how much hands on work he did himself will will probably never know.

Does anyone have Dr Neuwirth- Lexikon Wiener ,Gold-und Silberschmiede und ihre punzen-1867-1922 ,AK-LZ.

There are supposed be 8-9 pages devoted to Hermann Razersdofer in this book. (very expensive book)

The book that I have purchased by her Wiener Silber 1780-1866 (1988) mentions him on one page (not sure how much info)

Regards Guido.

[gsmoggy]

Hello Members
If anyone is interested ,I have finally received my box,I am happy with it,I have added some images taken at home.

Regards Guido.