Assistance, please, in identifying Hallmarks from Second Polish Republic, Łódź.
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 3:32 pm
These spoons stood out in a large mass of tableware at a thrift-store. The shape of the bowls, pointed egg with thick walls, begged my futher inspection.
The "design" at first appeared "scratched." I thought someone had "marked" plain, undecorated spoons with "scrathes:" two bands of five space at a distance on the shafts. The bands appear on face and reverse. Close inspection of the pair from maker HS are identical in their "imperfect" depths and widths. I now believe the bandings are cast.
When I placed the Hallmark to indicate the city of Łódź in The Second Polish Republic, I wondered whether the immense industry of the Ghetto produced silver tableware in difficulty, and with untrained, unskilled labor. The extremely little I could find through internet searches negated that thought by showing the mementos made for fellow residents and an incredibly detailed pendant presented to Elder Chaim Rumkoski. The artisans confined were definitely talented.
A few pieces in Yad Vashems collection bear similar initials, an unknown HS and a Moishe Klieger who had a metal workshop and whose son Chaim produced some beautiful silver as gifts and as bribes.
The buried trove of primarily silver plate discovered last December by construction works just at the former border of the Ghetto did not display any flatware with matching distinct outline on cursory glance.
I also thought that the Polish Republic Hallmark would definitely not have been used after September, 1939.
On another thread touching on "Polish" silver, a contributor used the word "primitive" to describe some "inspiration" for artisans of the Republic.
Could the late 19th discoveries of the Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture and the initial Marxist propogandizing it as a ideal "classless" society have carried its characteristic bold linear ornamentation to merchandise for a higher social status.
Or is the inspiration Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of the tomb of King Tutenkamen and the handle a silhouette of a papyrus blossom?
Approximately 9 inches in length.
VERY roughly used: one bowl tip completely warn down by scraping. The long, thin shaft of each has been bent, and rebent in multiple places.
All bearing the Second Republic 800 purity Hallmark with small L to right of profile, indicating Łódź.
Three different makers marks on the four similar spoons.
The heavier pair display the hallmark: S(serif)H(san-serif) in a clipped lozenge.
The damaged bowl displays" S(figurative?swan?dolphin?serpent?)W(unusual typography). It is one half inch shorter in length. The neck is thicker. The banding is two sets of six. The lower set is proportionally higher on shaft.
The final displays MK(san-serif) in rectangle. It is 1/2 inch shorter than the previous. It's bowl has thinner walls and is proportionately larger relatively overall.
One final thought: could these have been a copying assignment given by a master to a journeyman or an apprentice?
Thank you all in advance for any help that one may be able to offer.
[img]https://imgur.com/a/polish-spoons-RvWxgIb [img]
The "design" at first appeared "scratched." I thought someone had "marked" plain, undecorated spoons with "scrathes:" two bands of five space at a distance on the shafts. The bands appear on face and reverse. Close inspection of the pair from maker HS are identical in their "imperfect" depths and widths. I now believe the bandings are cast.
When I placed the Hallmark to indicate the city of Łódź in The Second Polish Republic, I wondered whether the immense industry of the Ghetto produced silver tableware in difficulty, and with untrained, unskilled labor. The extremely little I could find through internet searches negated that thought by showing the mementos made for fellow residents and an incredibly detailed pendant presented to Elder Chaim Rumkoski. The artisans confined were definitely talented.
A few pieces in Yad Vashems collection bear similar initials, an unknown HS and a Moishe Klieger who had a metal workshop and whose son Chaim produced some beautiful silver as gifts and as bribes.
The buried trove of primarily silver plate discovered last December by construction works just at the former border of the Ghetto did not display any flatware with matching distinct outline on cursory glance.
I also thought that the Polish Republic Hallmark would definitely not have been used after September, 1939.
On another thread touching on "Polish" silver, a contributor used the word "primitive" to describe some "inspiration" for artisans of the Republic.
Could the late 19th discoveries of the Cucuteni-Trypillian Culture and the initial Marxist propogandizing it as a ideal "classless" society have carried its characteristic bold linear ornamentation to merchandise for a higher social status.
Or is the inspiration Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of the tomb of King Tutenkamen and the handle a silhouette of a papyrus blossom?
Approximately 9 inches in length.
VERY roughly used: one bowl tip completely warn down by scraping. The long, thin shaft of each has been bent, and rebent in multiple places.
All bearing the Second Republic 800 purity Hallmark with small L to right of profile, indicating Łódź.
Three different makers marks on the four similar spoons.
The heavier pair display the hallmark: S(serif)H(san-serif) in a clipped lozenge.
The damaged bowl displays" S(figurative?swan?dolphin?serpent?)W(unusual typography). It is one half inch shorter in length. The neck is thicker. The banding is two sets of six. The lower set is proportionally higher on shaft.
The final displays MK(san-serif) in rectangle. It is 1/2 inch shorter than the previous. It's bowl has thinner walls and is proportionately larger relatively overall.
One final thought: could these have been a copying assignment given by a master to a journeyman or an apprentice?
Thank you all in advance for any help that one may be able to offer.
[img]https://imgur.com/a/polish-spoons-RvWxgIb [img]