Dresden spoon

mharvey · Post by **mharvey** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:33 am

Would appreciate some help on the attached. The spoon is part of a larger set of cutlery.

Dresden crossed swords with crown in one hallmark, with the letters DSDN close by. On the other side of the spoon SCHF B and G, the G being more deeply embossed. A large gothic 3 beside the makers (?) mark.

Any idea on date, maker or style?

Many thanks to all in advance

Post by **admin** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:20 am

Interesting!, always thought this pattern was an American design. Here is an example retailed by Tiffany ca.1860. I believe it was made by Henry Hebbard or John Polhemus, both NY makers and suppliers of flatware to Tiffany before they began their own manufacturing around 1871. The pattern is called something like - Cordon, I'm sure someone can give us the proper name used in America. I imagine your German made piece is from around the same period.

Regards, Tom

Bahner · Post by **Bahner** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:24 pm

Hello, looks like the mark of Scharffenberg, mentioned in Dresden between the 1830ies and the 1940ies. He was a jeweller and goldsmith, so he might have been just the retailer of these pieces. The pattern is known as Knotenmuster (knot pattern) in German and was available from almost all major German cutlery makers. Probably made around 1860, give or take a decade. No clue what the other mark is. Best wishes, Bahner

mharvey · Post by **mharvey** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:10 pm

Tom and Bahner, thanks very much for the interesting input.

Bahner, if the marks are Scharffenberg just acting as a retailer, and without an assay mark, does that imply the cutlery is base metal? Is there any way of checking this?

blakstone · Post by **blakstone** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:27 pm

I mentioned in this thread that I think Dresden date letters continued on further than is generally recorded, and I believe this is more evidence. As I say, I have noted both the lowercase Gothic "x" and "y" for 1845 & 1846, and I feel confident that the "3" here is actually a lowercase Gothic "z" for 1847.

And your piece is silver; the numeral in the Dresden city mark (barely visible in you photo on the opposite side of the bowl) should give the fineness in lÃ¶thige.

mharvey · Post by **mharvey** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:04 pm

Blakstone - thats fantastic! Many thanks! The Dresden hallmark is not clear on the piece I have to hand - will try and post some more photos from other pieces from the set, but won't be able to do so before the end of the week.

Bahner · Post by **Bahner** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:26 pm

Hello, I agree this might very well be an oldfashioned "z" (in script) from a 5th series of date letters. Best wishes, Bahner