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In the early morning to day,I found this spoon in Liege.
The seller offered it as an old spanish spoon. (sure)
Immediately bought it,, with my poker face.
No time to find out everything, but already knows where it belongs.
The 5 pointed star, city guild mark for the city of Maastricht in the province of Limburg. Date letter H for the time period: 1776-1778. Maker’s mark, ING Crowned for: Johannes N. Gilissen, registered 1772-1799.
And we also see a French hatchet; the poinçon de vieux, poinçon de hazard or second-hand mark.The French mark was struck tax free on objects with valid hallmarks.When an old object returned to the trade, in accordance with the French rules 1798-1809 it had to be re-submitted to the assay office for verification of the marks. When it proved that the marks on the object were still valid, the French hatchet was struck as a formality free of all charges, whereupon the object could be sold.
Oel.
PS. The separated city mark and date letter indicates; 1st standard or grote keur for 934 fineness. ( 2nd standard or kleine keur, combined city mark and date letter in one shield).
It is indeed Johannes Nicolaus Gilissen.
He was baptized in Maastricht July 10, 1747 and deceased in August 17, 1813
The craft artistry and craftsmanship of the Maastricht driven silversmith guild centuries have standing out far into Europe a great reputation.
In 1830 went largely with the fleeing patrlciers families to Belgium.
Some time before that year disappeared most Maastricht silverware in the melting pot of the French or were stolen by plundering Spaniards.
Therefore Maastricht silver has become extremely rare
There is less than 10 percent on everything they have geproduceed
Maastricht, an old Catholic stronghold and perhaps even the oldest settlement and city in the Netherlands. The important strategic location of Maastricht resulted during the ages in the construction of an impressive array of fortifications around the city.
In 1579, when Spain ruled the Netherlands, the city of Maastricht was in the hands of Dutch rebels. In 1579, on the 12th of March, the Spanish General Alexander Farnese started to lay siege to the city with his army consisting of 20,000 men. The same year, on June 29th, the city was conquered and ransacked for more than three days, looting by the Spanish soldiers, citizen were raped and killed, blood and treasure lost including most of Maastricht’s silver. Famiano Strada (Rome, 1572 - there, June 9, 1649) a Jesuit priest, historian and moralist, estimated the value of the booty, more than one million guilders.
Maastricht was occupied by the Spanish troops for 53 years. In 1632 the city was conquered by Frederick Henry the protestant Prince of Orange. His victory brought a certain degree of stability and introduced a new era of religious tolerance. The citizens of Maastricht had suffered tremendously during all sieges of their town but now Protestants and Catholics could coexist in some sort of harmony. In 1634 Maastricht came under tread of another Spanish siege and church & citizens were summoned by the Magistrate of Maastricht to hand over their silver & gold, in order to make coins, to pay for the extra costs to defend the city.
Yes, 16th century Maastricht’s silver is extremely rare, perhaps late 18th century silver to a lesser extent. I agree that Maastricht silver, bearing the old guild marks are hard to come by and I believe most is in the hands of private collectors and museums.
You should treasure your spoon made in Maastricht, great find!