I(?) Guldbrandsen Spoon Information Sought

[silverly]

I noticed the J Guldbrandsen reference in world marks on this site, but I have nothing else to go on about this piece. There’s a crook in the handle, and I’m wondering if it was done later to add a little 17/18th century style to the spoon. Bending the handle appears to have all but obliterated the hallmark. Yes there’s a lot of speculation in my analysis, so any corrections or new information will be very much appreciated.

[Qrt.S]

There is very little if anything indicating silver. The two other marks are unfortunately "illegible" in my eyes.The punch "Guldbransen" is most likely a trade mark of an American company. Moreover, what might be the connection between the company Guldbransen and silver ????? In its origin there are, however, Norwegian roots. This kind of pattern is often used on Norwegian made spoons but they are usually made of tin/pewter, sometimes even silver, but as said the missing marks?

[dognose]

I think there is everything indicating silver on this piece. On the right you have the remains of the Danish three towers mark, and on the left the assayers mark of Simon Groth.

Trev.

[dognose]

Simon Groth

Maker is likely the J. Guldbrandsen of Horsens, to be found here: https://www.925-1000.com/denmarkG.html

Trev.

[Qrt.S]

OK, so be it thanks for the specificaton, but the punches are still rather unclear, especially the town mark. But! The forename can hardly start with J. because the father punched with G. (Guldbrand ) and his son with H. (Hans). Both were active in the town of Vejle in Jutaland (not in Copenhagen in Zealand).

Mind my asking of curiosity 1: What "everything" is indicating silver? Such spoons are usually made of tin, but as said earlier also but more seldom of silver. Of course this one is probably silver due to the marks. This spoon is made before 1904 because Simon Groth assayed 1863-1904

Question 2: Who is and where from is the information in the given link of G. Guldbrandsen's working period being 1893-1937. Guldbrand Guldbransen died 11.10.1916 (Hans died 16.5.1924).

Question 3: My sources tell me that both father and son punched as town mark Vejle in a square shield (different versions and font), but here seems to be Copenhagen in an oval??? Moreover, the father didn't always punch the town mark.

Sorry, just asking of curiosity. Probably everything is OK, but this shows again that silver marks is not an absolute science :-))))

[dognose]

Hi Qrt.S,

By 'everything', I was referring to what appears to be the three towers mark and Simon Groth's mark.

As to where that information provided in the link came from, I have no idea, it has been there many years.

Trev.

[Qrt.S]

Hi dognose, thanks for the answer.

Anyway, something is still strange with the spoon. I wrote everything I found in my sources. The Copenhagen town mark is a mystery. It should be Vejle, but ???
Would you kindly correct the incorrect info in 925 regarding the mysterious years for G. Guldbransen's working period in the link of 925 and fill in the correct years as well add his sons name, period and marks, thank you.

G. Guldbransen's punches were G.GULDBRANSEN, G GULDBRANSEN (no dot), GULDBRANSEN, fracture/gothic G or GG as well as Latin GG all in square frames. His son's Hans punch's were H.GULDBRANSEN and HG all also in a square frame like his father. Hans working period was 1882-1924.

[silverly]

The “crook” in the handle that I mentioned in the first post.

[dragonflywink]

Can't say I see a problem with the 3-tower mark, in 1893 the Copenhagen mark became the national mark (and none of the Danish Makers' Marks onsite show any earlier date than 1893) - to my eye, compared to a clear 1899 mark, looks like your spoon might also bear a '99'. The similar spoon, including in size, shown below, appears to also have a similarly shaped handle - it bears an 1897 3-tower mark along with the 'S&J H' maker's mark of Peter Hertz's sons. The enameled late 19th-early 20th century coffee spoon by Peter Hertz in a similar pattern is from a set of six that I own...

~Cheryl

[Qrt.S]

@dragonflywink

Yes, your notice is fully acceptable anticipating that the town mark is from later than 1893, but is it? (Could be, but In my eyes it is a bad punch, very bad and I hate to jump into hasty conclusions.) Anyway, if it is, it would explain the town mark of Copenhagen. No problem with that.

The father G. Guldbransen was baptized 15.5.1829, master 1854 and died 11.10.1916. His son Hans was born 17.11.1854 and master 10.10.1882. He died 16.5.1924. This means that the spoon would have been made after 1893, maybe 1899????

[silverly]

Absolutely excellent revealing and reassuring discussion on this piece thus far, and the hope is that there will be more to come.

[dragonflywink]

Maker's mark appears to be, as already suggested, 'J.GULDBRANDSEN' of Horsens:




From a 1982 article on Horsens silversmiths, showing the 'J.Guldbrandsen' mark, noting Johannes Guldbrandsen (born in Vejle) was made master in 1895, the 'Guldbrandsen' mark first used in 1909, and footnote suggesting Bøje's stamp 3476, attributed to the Vejle maker, more likely the Horsens maker:




Advertisement from a 1903/04 Horsens directory:




~Cheryl

[Qrt.S]

Waooo!!! Nice done Cheryl, indeed an interesting new finding. I tried to locate Johannes in case he had any family relations to Guldbrand and/or his son Hans, but with poor result, nothing found, but? I don't think they are even related, but who knows?
The number 3476 refers to Bøje's punch number 3476 in his book, published 1954. This punch as well as 3478 (possibly also 5662) and are found in the newest book from 2022 as B4-5654 and 5657 on p. 460. Moreover, there is not a word regarding Johannes Guldbrandsen in this book from 2022, interesting!
It seems to that Guldbransen is obviously not an uncommon name in Denmark and that has maybe caused this "misunderstanding". Moreover, the town Horsen is not far from Vejle. In addition, the text also states "snarare" meaning "likely or rather". The text also tells that Johannes G. registered the punch not earlier than in 1909.
As already mentioned NICE FINDING! excellent doing Cheryl.

[silverly]

Thank you Cheryl. With the name you provided for the maker, I was able to find his father Guldbrand with occupation names that I couldn’t translate until ultimately in 1890 I think it was he is listed as a Guldsmed.