Ramón Espuñes and his 1840-1884 maker’s marks.
Hola José Luis
¡Muchisimas grácias por sus adÃcional y muy informativa contribución suplementario!
Translation:
Ramón Espuñes, from
Llerida (Catalonia, Spain), moved to
Madrid (Spain) in
1840, and lived there until
1884, when he has died.
In his early work, [Neoclassical]
influences from the »
Real Escuela de PlaterÃa “
MartÃnez”«
* (Kings College of Silversmith’s)
are visible. For that reason, probably his apprenticeship was there? [1819-1846 was there director Pablo Carrero; 1846-1869 probably Luis Macazaga, son of José Ignacio Macazaga].
In
1859 Ramón Espuñes founded together with his brother
Francisco Espuñes and the
chaser Ãngel Teresa MarquÃna the companionship »
Marquina-Espuñes Hermanos«. [In
1859-1860, one of their first works for
Queen Isabel II of Spain was cutleries.
Their cutleries were, in relation to the courts tradition, in a very advanced decorative style. Later, during the short regency of
King Amadeo de Savoy,
1870-1873, these cutleries were modified by the »
ANSORENA« workshop.
See p. 408, p.409 lamina 9: http://books.google.com/books?id=7u_dCT ... 22&f=false" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Some of them were in
1995 in ownership of Ansorena, Madrid]
[
In 1863-1864 they made the »Cáliz limosnero« chalice of charity, now in the church »Asunción de Nosa Señora«, in Villalbilla, Province Madrid]. One of the other famous works for
Queen Isabel II of Spain was in
1865, during their advanced partnership, the »
Vajilla de Colón« (Center piece, and candelabra). Both works are now having the status of »
National Patrimony«.
The »
ESPUÑES« mark (of the beaker; struck in
1867) is that of »
Espuñes Hermanos« (Espuñes Bros.), which was formed by
Ramón Espuñes with his brother
Francisco Espuñes; after their
partnership with the
chaser Ãngel Teresa MarquÃna,
Bilbao originated,
was ceased in 1867.
After the death of
Ramón Espuñes in
1884, his son
Luis Espuñes took over the leadership; and he has started to diversify their former production by adding jewellery to their program —
their mark remained for a long time still the same as before.
Ramón Espuñes has, during each period of his work,
used another maker’s mark:
1847-1859 a maker’s mark in
two lines:
In the upper one an abbreviation of his Christians name, followed by a dot:
R.
And in the lower line his father’s family name:
ESPUÑES =
R.
ESPUÑES
1859-1867, during his partnership with
Ãngel Teresa MarquÃna,
Ramón Espuñes only engraved ESPUÑES below the name of his companion MarquÃna.
1867-1884, during his last working period,
Ramón Espuñes struck an only
one line maker’s mark:
ESPUÑES
Actually Ramón Espuñes shop still exists in Madrid: http://www.espunyes.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
But their manufactory was ceased recently.
Brief additional explanations:
»
Vajilla de Colón« (Center piece and candelabra with statuettes, of
Christopher Colombo and two Indian’s, are protected by him); now in the Royal Palace of Madrid:
http://193.146.141.134/cgi-bin/GOWE/BRS ... R=&COLE=PL&" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
* The »
Real Escuela de PlaterÃa “
MartÃnez”« (Kings College of Silversmith’s [well also for Goldsmith’s, Jeweller’s, Enameller’s … Invention of Production Techniques, and Machines; and their use for Iron, Copper, Similor, Gold and Silver. Similor, american. “Ormolu” = Copper-Zinc alloy with an appearance of Gold] was
founded in Madrid by an order of
King Carlos III of Spain, dated from
29 April 1778;
founding director was the famous artist and silversmith
António MartÃnez (born in
Huesca in
1750). In
1798 he has
died, and was followed by his
widow MarÃa Ignacia Ãrto, and his two brethren-in-law
DomÃngo Conde and
José Ignacio Macazaga, former early apprentices of the also baptized »
Real Fábrica de PlaterÃa«.
Kind regards silverport
