Antique Wmf Art Nouveau German Silver-Plated Metal Sugar Bowl

Description

We kindly suggest that you read the entire description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and … more We kindly suggest that you read the entire description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our objects.
Exceptional and very distinctive German silver-plated metal sugar bowl; the shape and workmanship perfectly incorporate the aesthetic characteristics of Art Nouveau; the lid has an elegant and eccentric knob; the handle is covered in raffia and creates an interesting combination of materials and styles, mixing the luster of silver-plated metal with the natural texture of raffia. The interior of the sugar bowl and lid are gilded; the drop-shaped medallions cleverly distributed on the body of the object are also gilded, creating a balanced and refined contrast. The sugar bowl bears the characteristic stamps of the German WMF Company (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik) on the bottom; it was made in 1906 and was part of a 4-piece tea & coffee service published on page 211 of WMF's (Art Nouveau Domestic Metalwork) English market catalog published in 1906 (see photo). WMF stands for Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, which means Württemberg Metal Factory. It is a German company that produces high-quality, designer kitchenware and cutlery. WMF was founded in 1853 in Geislingen an der Steige, a town in southwest Germany, by Daniel Straub, an industrialist and inventor. Initially, the company was engaged in the production of metal railroad items such as lamps, signals, and accessories. In 1880, WMF acquired a cutlery factory in Heilbronn and began producing stainless steel and silver cutlery. Over the years, WMF expanded internationally, opening branches in several European countries and beyond. Today, WMF has about 6,000 employees worldwide and offers a wide range of kitchen products, such as pots, pans, knives, coffee makers, kettles, dryers, and more. WMF is known for its quality, innovation, and elegant and functional style. The company was one of the pioneers in the use of plated silver and developed advanced methods to produce high-quality plated items. In the Art Nouveau period, WMF became famous for its artistically designed products characterized by sinuous lines and elegant shapes, creating unique pieces that became true functional works of art. The "OX" punch indicates that the object's decorations were oxidized with a potassium sulfide solution and the flat areas polished to a mirror finish with pumice. The "I/O" punch identifies metal-plated objects by indicating the thickness of the layer of silver used in plating the object; our sugar bowl has a normal thickness of silver plating, that is, one gram of silver distributed over an area of one square decimeter. The punch depicting an ostrich enclosed in a rhombus and then in a square is known as the "Ostrich Mark" or "WMF Ostrich Mark," is the first impressed mark used in 1880 when the firm Straub & Schweizer of Geislingen merged with the firm A, Ritter & Co. of Esselingen to form the new company "Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik" (WMF) of Geislingen, with Daniel Straub as general manager. The choice of the ostrich as the trademark of the new company was determined by the heraldic animal of the Straub family, whose German word is "Strauss." The letter "G" stands for "Geislingen." The sugar bowl is in very good condition. Measures diameter cm.11, height cm.17. For all our shipments we use special packaging materials (custom-made wooden crates, styrofoam, etc.) for maximum protection and safety of the items. less