Silver Spoon, North Netherlands?

[Vantlicht]

I bought this silver spoon together with a lot of a spoon from Groningen and a spoon from Emden (Germany). I cannot find a match for HU markersmark and there are no other marks on the spoon to point us in some direction. Hopefully we can find the maker?

[oel]

East Frisia, could it be MU (the M slightly distorted)? If so perhaps for Menke Jansßen Ufen, born 11-09-1751, son of gold & silversmith Ufe Jansßen Ufen in the city of Norden, passed away in Norden 21-01-1796. Maker's mark MU in rectangle and in oval. The town mark of Norden, three 6 pointed stars or 6 pointed spur-wheels in trefoil is missing. Without a town mark we can't be sure. Indeed the maker's mark could also be IH(conjoined) U or HU.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norden,_Lower_Saxony

Peter.

Source; Horst H. Arians, Riechdosen und Kleinsilber aus Ostfriesland, page 308 St. Nr. 692-01

[Vantlicht]

Thanks Peter. Sharp eye!

[oel]

Hi,

Is it possible you show us the spoon made in Emden and perhaps Groningen too?

Thanks for your cooperation,

Peter.

[Vantlicht]

Hi Peter,

The spoon from Groningen:

[Vantlicht]

The spoon from Emden:

[oel]

Thanks, yes it could be an additional mark of Martinus Reyken (Rieken), born 10-02-1765 in Freepsum, as the son of the preacher Reyke Martinus Reyken, died in Emden after 1818, master goldsmith in Emden since 10-08-1790. Workshop mark: MR in a flattened oval or in a frame, MR next to each other in a frame or R in a square with bevelled corners.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freepsum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emden
Also see;
viewtopic.php?t=60149

It seems that just like in the Dutch West Friesland, silver below the 1st grade was not tested. Only provided with a master mark which is also a responsibility mark. Here the city mark of Emden with a year letter is missing. The Emden guild used an E, to which, with a short interruption, another letter was added from 1601 to 1837, indicating the year of the examination. In small towns without their own guild, the maker's mark was usually struck twice and rarely with an assay office/town mark. But for Emden with a guild, this does not often happen, as here with MR mark.

Peter.

Source; Horst H. Arians, Riechdosen und Kleinsilber aus Ostfriesland, page 259 St. Nr. 545-04 and Email with H. Arians

[oel]

Hi Peter,

The spoon from Groningen:

Yes, indeed Groningen, VG italics, in contour for Hendrik Willem van Giffen​ (1776-1856), ​silversmith in Groningen from 1795 to 1830
He used the maker's marks; VG italics, in contour, VG in contour, VG under flower in a rectangle, VG in lozenge (during French occupation), VG flower in rectangle, VG1 in hexagon.


Hendrik, like his father, became a silversmith. He obtained his master's degree in 1795 and continued the goldsmith's shop of his father and uncle Lucas van Giffen in the building Tusschen de beide Markten, corner of Guldenstraat in Groningen. He lacked a son as successor and he trained his second cousin Lambertus van Giffen.

When his daughter Willemina Margaretha van Giffen married his former pupil Nanno Folmer, he shared the company with him, so that for a few years it was known as the firm Folmer and van Giffen.

In 1820 Hendrik was a councillor, in 1832 he became alderman of the city of Groningen and withdrew completely from the company. He then moved with his wife to the Herestraat. This brought the curtain down on the dynasty of Groningen silversmiths Van Giffen.
Hendrik ​r​egistered for marriage Groningen 08-06-1797 and married Groningen 02-07-1797 with Ellegonda ALINGH, born Poelestraat Groningen, baptized Martinikerk Groningen 22-01-1773, died Achter de Muur C95 Groningen 22-03-1839, daughter of Willem ALINGH (beer brewer) and Lucia Helena DIJK.

From this marriage: 5 daughters
https://www.greetsgenealogie.nl/gezinsk ... 1776-1854/

Peter.


Source; Groninger keur zilver uit Stad en Ommelanden. Waarborgholland, ˜Netherlands' Responsibility Marks since 1797