Amsterdam, 1809 - Silversmith ?

[anikopol]

Hi all,

Here is a candlestick, that I think was made in Amsterdam in 1809 (?) :



Here are the marks :



g in an oval : porbably letter for kingdom of the Netherlands, 1809 (Poinçons d'argent, 20e édition [Tardy, 1995], p. 318)
three crosses in an oval : Amsterdam
a crown : big work of The Netherlands,1807-10 (Poinçons d'argent, 20e édition [Tardy, 1995], p. 318, n° 934)
g dans un ovale : poinçon non identifié
DLB in a square : probably maker's mark

Can you please confirm my identification for thfirst three marks, and identify the fourth one ?
Can you please give a reference book for Amsterdam silver marks during 17th-19th century ?

Thanks

[oel]

Silver chamber-stick.

Hi, yes you are correct. The crown standard mark during Kingdom of Holland 1807-1812 (French occupation) for large work 934/1000 fineness (11 penningen grein). Assay office mark for Amsterdam; 3 Andreas crosses in oval shield, year letter b for 1809
Maker's mark as registered during Kingdom of Holland, DLB for: Diederik. L. Bennewitz, registered in Amsterdam 1785-1826

For more information including reference books see;
http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 265#p80265


Peter

[anikopol]

Thanks oel for your comments.

Do you know this silversmith ?
And concerning the letter, I am not sure if it is a b or a g, which would change the year.

Finally, do you have a reference book to advise on this subject ?
Thanks.

[oel]

Diederik Lodewijk Bennewitz was born in 1764 and died in Amserdam in 1826.
Prolific silversmith of large silver; salvers, trays, tea & coffee services, candle holders, chestnut vases. He also worked in gold; purse mounts, snuff boxes, seals.
During his active working period Bennewitz used various different maker's marks; DLB in a rectangle, DLB above star in a lozenge, B&Z under star in rectangle, B&Z in hexagon.
He also used the retailers brand Bennewitz & Sons. After his apprenticeship Bennewitz worked two years for C. L. Diemont. From 1802 to 1822 Bennewitz was in partnership with A. Bonebakker in joined ownershp of a shop called Bennewitz & Bonebakker, where much gold and silverware and gold jewelry was sold. In addition, Bennewitz ran an extensive workshop where gold work and large and small silverware was manufactured. In 1822 the cooperation between Bennewitz and Bonebakker was terminated. Bennewitz continued the combination workshop and store under the name of Bennewitz and Sons. After Bennewitz death in 1826 his widow and son Georg Bennewitz continued the firm. The store has existed until 1853 (from 1841 owned by the silversmith J. W. van Benten)


Peter

Source: Elias Voet, Jr., Nederlands Goud- & Zilvermerken,
Karel A. Citroen, Dutch Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Marks and Names prior to 1812,
Karel A. Citroen, Amsterdamse Zilversmeden en hun merken.
L.B. Gans goud-en zilvermerken van Voet.
W. Koonings De keuring van goud en zilver tijdens het Koninkrijk Holland
Waarborgholland, ˜Netherlands' Responsibility Marks since 1797
Janjaap Luijt, Het zilver Lexicon & other publications

[anikopol]

Thanks a lot Peter for providing so much information !
It is very interesting to put a name on an object.
I am a bit surprised to see how many marks Bennewitz had during is career. I do not know if is not uncommon in The Netherlands, but in country like France the maker usually keep the same mark (except for silversmiths that work during the Ancien regime and after 1798).

[oel]

Hi Anikopol,

Bennewitz started out during the time of the guilds, the Dutch “Ancien regime”during the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. Bennewitz had to cope with the new rules under the French occupation. The Napoleonic era during the Batavian Republic 1795-1806 the later Kingdom of Holland (1806-1810) and French Empire 1804-1815, hence the forced introduction of the maker's mark in a lozenge, French style. Last but not least after the French were defeated and the new Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed new rules about the shape of the maker's marks were introduced. Anyway in the Netherlands it is not uncommon for silversmiths to have a few different maker's/retailers mark.

See:

http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28590

Peter