Spoons from KÃ¶nigsberg

Hose_dk · Post by **Hose_dk** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:06 pm

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I have these two spoons from KÃ¶nigsberg.

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The spoons are from KÃ¶nigsberg so you have another town mark to add to German marks from the 1840s.

One spoon is by Thun year mark Y the other one by C.ZIMMERMANN yearmark B.
Can anyone tell me anything about these makers, yearmarks etc?

The spoons are sopposed to be so called "Skipperskeer" or translated "Captains Spoons" given to the ships captain from the ships agent whenever the captain made use of the agent services. I would call that traffic bribe.
Is it correct that this was common in Germany?

The spoons are 23 cm and 21,5 cm and they are 34g each. So they do not contain much silver but they are nicely made and in perfect condition.
I would like responce to both spoons and the "Skipperske" history. My interest in mainly in the "Skipperske" expresion.

blakstone · Post by **blakstone** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 4:54 pm

Year Letter Y. = 1841; Maker THUN = Johann Christian Thun, listed 1833-1845.

Year Letter B = 1844; Maker C. ZIMMERMAN = Carl Heinrich Zimmerman, listed 1833-1850.

Hope this helps!

Bahner · Post by **Bahner** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:29 pm

Hello, there is a nice book on "navy silver" in Germany, written by Ellmers and published in 1989, called "Maritimes Silber". It does not mention spoons like that, so maybe it was uncommon in Germany or the "bribery" was done in a more subtle form. Best wishes, Bahner

Hose_dk · Post by **Hose_dk** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:57 pm

Thank you for the reply.I will try to get that book.
Regarding the subject - it is not realy mentioned in Denmark (or Sweden for that matter) Its a Duch expresion.
In Denmark the term Kaplak is known. That is part of the cargo that was given to the captain after a well carried out trip. kaplak means "Clothes for a hat" I have heard that the clothes was transformed into a spoon.
Now kaplak is from the owner to the employee - the captain. That makes sence - the captain should have a motive to take care of the ship and cargo.

The other one - agent to captain. Now the agent gets his money from the owner - if he gives valuable items to the captain... So thats why this does not make sence.

Then I have heard that these spoons were given mostly in german port/cities.
Or perhaps its all just a story - that someone misunderstood the word kaplak and made up the rest of the story. In fact I think that its the case.