HALLMARKS OF GERMAN SILVER
MARKS AND HALLMARKS OF GERMANY
- 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY (POST 1888) -

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German hallmarking system was unified in 1888 (see Decree January 7, 1886) adopting the national mark "crescent and crown" indicating the in thousandths the fineness of silver. This system is still in use in present days.

The previous system was based on different town marks and the silver fineness was indicated in "loth" (12 loth corresponding to 750/1000, 13 loth = 812/1000, 14 loth = 875/1000, 15 loth = 937/1000)

German silver 17/18th century marks

German silver 19th century marks

Hanau silver marks

GERMAN SILVER HALLMARKS OF THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY (post 1888)

	Hermann Behrnd - Dresden c. 1890 ref: Sänger/Das deutsche Silber-Besteck Marke Seite 271
	Schnauffer - Dresden c. 1890
	Koch & Bergfeld - Bremen 1899 Founded in 1829. Executed 1900-10 designs by Hugo Leven, Albin Muller and Henry van de Velde and in the twenties and thirties by Gustav Elsass and Berhardd Hotger ref: Neuwirth/Markenlexikon für Edle und Unedle Metalle No.286 Art Nouveau and Art deco Silver - by Annelies Krekle-Aalberse, p. 256
	Robbe & Berking - Flensburg, 1874 - Present
	Lazarus Posen Witwe (Lazarus Posen’s widow) Berlin & Frankfurt/Main 20th century ref: Bröhan/Metallkunst der Moderne vol. VI Marke Seite 108, No.87, Scheffler Goldschmiede Hessens No.631 The firm was founded in Frankfurt on the Main in 1869 by Brendina Wetzlar, the widow of Lazarus Jacob Posen, a silversmith and retailer of Polish descent. Under the widow Posen’s stewardship, the firm became the largest supplier of Judaica in the late 19th century. Her son Jacob L. Posen joined the firm by 1880, and by 1900, the company’s large staff of chasers and engravers were producing some of the finest silver in the country. They received a royal warrant in 1903. In the 20th century the firm was under the direction of Brendina’s grandsons Jakob, Hermann and Moritz Posen. The exact date of the company’s closure is not known
	Gustav Haegermann - Burgdorf/Hannover c. 1900 ref: Deutsches Goldschmiede-Jahrbuch 1913 No.204 Scheffler/Goldschmiede Niedersachsens I page 228
	C.Haub (son) - Hanau - end of 19th century ref: Neuwirth/Edle und Unedle Metalle page 48
	not identified - c. 1900

	Jakob Grimminger - Schwabisch Gmund The firm was founded in 1893 and by the 1930 had a fine reputation as producer of modern silver. ref: Art Nouveau and Art deco Silver - by Annelies Krekle-Aalberse
	not identified - c. 1910
	Wilhelm Binder - Schwäbisch Gmünd - founded in 1869 ref: Art Nouveau and Art deco Silver, Annelies Krekel-Albersee, pag. 252
	A.W.B- not identified
	Bremen c. 1920 - not identified
	Lutz & Weiss - Pforzheim c. 1900 ref: Grotkamp-Schepers & Sänger/Bestecke des Jugendstils Marke page 211, image No.168
	WILKENS & SÖHNE - Bremen-Hemelingen c. 1890 founded in 1810 was the leading silver manufacturer in Germany al the end of 19th century. Its designers were Peter Behrens, Albin Muller, and Heinrich Vogeler. H. Bulling, A. Donat, C. Krauss and Karl Muller designed for the firm between 1910 and 1940 ref: Art Nouveau and Art deco Silver - by Annelies Krekle-Aalberse, p.260