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Hello,

Could anyone out there help me identify this makers mark -I found one reference that said it could possibly be Austrian - I thought maybe it could be German or French. Any info., would be great, thank you.

Apologies for size of the pictures - Have tried to submit thumbnails but had problems doing so.

DEPOSE is usually found on French articles but I do not recognise the mark that would appear to be a scorpion. Best wishes, Mike.

Hi Mike,

I agree that the makers mark does look more like a scorpion especially as the tail turns up, I have searched and searched under both dragonfly, scorpion and other 'insect' assay-makers marks and have yet to come up with anything positive, the design is similar to some of the German nouveau designs but the 'depose' complicates matters - thanks for taking an interest. I will keep plodding on.

Regards....Franny

"Depose" was also used on many German pieces of Nouveau and Deco jewelry and the 900 is also indicative of German manufacture. Yours is certainly a wonderful Jugendstil piece, without seeing the dragonfly, which is the maker's mark, I would have guessed it to be by Fahrner. Hopefully someone will come along and identify the maker.
Regards, Tom

Hello Tom,

Thank you for your comments, I will just have to wait and hope that someone out there will recognise the mark eventually, I do have a book with continental assay-makers marks but unfortunately this doesn't give any clues either.

Regards...Franny

Hi all, an identical piece came up for auction in Munich some time ago. The name of the maker was given as Meyle & Mayer from Pforzheim, Germany. The maker's mark was described as looking like a dragonfly. The mark of M & M as listed in the books is somewhat different though. Now I wonder ... Best wishes, Bahner

Hello Bahner,

Thank you so much for the information, how interesting that there appears to be 2 different marks, the only other reference I have seen so for this mark is in an antiques quide which stated Austrian? The mystery continues and I am still searching, but many thanks I do appreciate your information as it is something to go on.

Regards....Franny

The word DEPOSE is found generally as a French mark that refers to something like a patent. So it would possibly indicate that the design was patented?

Hi Franny,
A lovely brooch.
It's a jugendstil piece from Germany certainly by MEYLE & MAYER as already mentioned. It's exactly the area I collect and I'm highly envious!
David

Hmmm! Just to be sure I checked up on the only published image of the mark i have for Meyle and Mayer ( silver jewellery designs by N.S Schiffer), it is a bit different. Having no legs and a less curled tail. I still think its this maker but am less certain until i find an alternative version of the mark . Ill look again.
David

Here are two examples of Meyle & Mayer, hope they help.

Andy





Gorgeous brooch btw!