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Hi -

for the collectors of the "Captain´s spoons". 21 cm, 98 g
Found this pair of spoons from Clemens (Clemenz), Hermann Georg - 1806-1856 and 1846-1856
Assayer: Natarov, Jacov Aleksandrowitsch - interesting that he already was 1853 on duty.




Regards
Goldstein

Nice spoons Goldstein!

Maker and Assay Master are as you indicate. It is also interesting to note that several captain's spoons for Mayer & Co made by other Estonian silversmiths and silversmiths from St. Petersburg are known.

The merchant house Mayer & Co. was established in 1783 by Ernst August Mayer and had extensive commission activities, banking and shipping operations during the 18th and 19th century. They also provided a mail address of convenience for skippers. Ernst August Mayer was born in Osnabrück in 1753, became a burgher of Reval in 1783 and Alderman of the Great Guild. He became member of the Town Council in 1790. He had established a little earlier a joint business venture with Gottlieb Küster and the merchant house Mayer & Küster was one of Reval's most important grain importers and exporters. The joint venture was dissolved amicably in 1798. His two sons participated in the activities of the firm. His first son, Eduard Friedrich Woldemar, was born in Reval in 1829, became co-owner of the firm and extended the activities in the chemical and leather areas. He died in Berlin in 1883. His second son, Günther Thure Wilhelm, was born in 1831, became in 1883 co-owner of the firm and in 1885 sole owner. He died in Reval in 1891. The firm was liquidated in 1913.

The Estonian Historical Museum in Tallinn and the Estonian National Historical Archives in Tartu have extensive collection of documents on the commercial activities and correspondence of Mayer & Co.

Hi Scotrab -

many thanks for your interesting background informations!

I am not a pronounced "Captain's spoon collector" - but as a Baltic silver collector, there is no way around them. In addition, they make the many-fold, often intricate trade relations in this region transparent and were an endearing but also solid gesture of the trading companies.
Elusive eyewitnesses from a bygone era!

Regards
Goldstein