Please help identify maker of art nouveau silver buttons

[fibulanomiste]

Hello, everyone!

I am trying to figure out who made this silver button. I believe the crescent and crown mark identify it as German, but I have had no luck figuring out who the maker might be. I am hoping that knowing the maker will also help me pin down a date of manufacture.

The front of the button is marked something that looks like HOCCENINFPS or HOGGENINFPS and DEP, which I thought might be related to the French "déposé", which would mean the design was registered or patented.

Here are photos of the front and back of the button:

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/matthew ... x.jpg.html

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/matthew ... f.jpg.html

Thank you for your help!

Matthew

[dognose]

Hi Matthew,

Welcome to the Forum.

You will far more chance of getting an answer if you embed your images as very few people will click on links.

Trev.

[AG2012]

Your pictures are embedded.
The button was made by Huguenin Frères, Le Locle, Switzerland.
Silversmiths, nielo watch cases, medals.
On the left purity in Russian ``84 zolotniki`` , on the right German Reichsmark for silver (crescent moon and the crown, after 1886).
Dep is short for marque déposée in French,meaning registered and protected design(“filed, submitted”)
The marks resemble the pattern used by Huguenin Frères on watch cases.

[fibulanomiste]

Hello again!

Thank you so much for the help with the photos and for the extremely informative answer!

It seems that the company made lots of different small items of this type.

Cheers!

Matthew

[AG2012]

The family tree of Huguenin brothers, Le Locle,Switzerland
Charles-Aimé Huguenin and Lucie Köhli from Le Locle
Aimé-Zélim Huguenin 1814-1860
Fritz-Aimé Huguenin (1845-1915) and Albert Huguenin (1839-1928)
"Huguenin Freres" (HF) was founded in 1868.
Albert had no children and in 1900 the firm was given to three sons of Fritz – Aime
Georges-Fritz 1878-1966
Henri-Edouard (1879-1920)
Paul-Auguste (1882-1954)

In 1934 the firm became joint-stock company and the name was changed to "Huguenin Frères & Cie. SA.".


The mark for niello was registered in 1904.