1797 Scandinavian Spoon

[SteveDWollongong]

Hi All,

A friend has sent me these pics and asked for help in identifying the place of origin and maker. I'm thinking possibly Finland, Norway or Sweden but cannot rationalise the marks to any of these but my knowledge in this area is very limited.

Any help/info you can offer will be be greatly appreciated.










Thanks,
Steve

[Silverstone]

Hi SteveDWollongong,

your spoon was made in Sønderorg (Denmark) by Hans Jürgen Mathiesen, born 1751(Tønder/Denmark) – 25.10.1823.
„Satrup“ is a little town in Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) nearby Denmark.






Another hovedvandsæg from Hinrich Henningsen Schmidt (Tønder - 1766-1825)


Source: Danske guld- og sølvsmedemærker før 1870. 4. udgave, revideret og udvidet af Henrik Jakobsen,
Syddansk Universitetsforlag 2022, 768 sider, p. 564, 565
© privat photo

Regards
Silverstone

[SteveDWollongong]

Thanks Silverstone, that's great info!

I actually looked at Tonder in the beginning as I have a slightly later Paul Hansen spoon but ruled it out.

Thankyou again,
Steve

[SteveDWollongong]

I just realised you said the spoon was made in Sønderorg, not Tønder. That was merely where the maker was born. :)

[Silverstone]

Thank you,

a mistake!
The name of the town is Sönderborg - I have not written the „d“.

Silverstone

[Silverstone]

New mistake!
I forgot the „b“!!!

[SteveDWollongong]

Thanks Silverstone, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one making mistakes today!

Cheers,
Steve

[Aguest]

::::: What does the other hallmark signify? :::: The [M] is the makers mark, but what is the other hallmark? Is it the number 20 or something else? :::
::::: I feel like I should know this but I am forgetting a lot of things lately :::::

[Silverstone]

Hi,

this concerns Steve's spoon and Aguest's question.
20 = 9-10 lot


Source: Danske guld- og sølvsmedemærker før 1870. 4. udgave, revideret og udvidet af Henrik Jakobsen,
Syddansk Universitetsforlag 2022, 768 sider, p. 16

Up until the 1870s, the fineness of silver was calculated differently than it is today.
The basis was the medieval classification of weight in pounds and lots.
The pound was about 467 grams, at least according to a sample weight from 1705 still in Cologne, and was divided into 32 lots.

The commercial weight of silver was half a pound or mark of silver equal to 16 lots, with the lot being further subdivided into 18 grains.
The number stamps of 12 / 13 / 14 or 15, which are often struck on antique silver, alone or in connection with a city hallmark, always refer to the fineness in lot.
For example, the number 12 stamped on a silver object would mean that it is 750 silver.

Source: Utta Günther, Frankfurt, Silber-Studio

9 Lot - 562,5 ‰
10 Lot - 650 ‰
11 Lot- 687,5 ‰
12 Lot- 750 ‰
Source: note (PC)

Regards
Silverstone