German Copper

Helpful comments are very welcome.


	This covers some of the makers and quality marks commonly found.

	Mark under a 1930's design pot, made in Germany. It may indicate that the item is made of pure copper. Other versions have a maker's name in the circle and a separate stamp for the country.
	Christian Wagner, West Germany. Address and dates not yet known.
	A double struck version of the mark with the full Christian name and 'Rhein Küpfer' (Pure copper). (Thanks to Laurie Lendon)

	Gebrüder Bing, Nürnburg, Germany, founded in 1863 by Ignatz and Adolf Bing, initially making kitchen items and later becoming one of the largest toy manufacturers in Europe. They closed in 1932. The copper factory site in Nürnburg was taken over by Diehl Metall in 1938.

	Harald Buchrucker, (1897-1985) metalworker in Bauhaus style during the 1930s in Germany.

	'CA' unknown monogram found under a well styled thin copper jug of mid 20th century. Further details welcome.

	Carl Deffner, Esslingen, Germany, decorative copper, brass and plated tableware. He was born in 1856 and took over management of his father's metalware factory in 1900. Responsible for many excellent designs during the art nouveau and art deco periods. The factory closed in 1959.

	DRGM German patent mark (meaning Deutsches Reich Geschmacksmuster (or Gebrauchmuster?)) that appears with or without a registration number. It seems to have been introduced around 1900 and was used on both domestic and industrial designs as well as jewellery. Officially it was withdrawn in 1945 but also appears on some items of a later date.	DRGM

	This is a rare example of the use of both design registration marks, found under a good folding letter rack made from sheet brass.

	F & R Fischer, Göppingen, between Stuttgart and Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Göppingen is on the River Fils and just downstream of Geislingen, home of WMF. It was founded in 1874 by Fritz and Robert Fischer. Most of the firm closed during the financial crisis of 1934 but some products were still being made until 1966. They produced well designed art metal hollowware and dishes bearing the distinctive twin fish mark. This one under a spirit kettle.

	Geschützt, Geschutz, Geschuetz, German mark covering a proprietary copyright, used until 1883. (Geschützt = 'Protected' in English). The mark was also used in Austria. This one is on a candlestick base. Ges. Gesch. (gesetzlich geschützt) used in Austria and Germany to note copyright protected design.

	Geschützt, in a circular stamp on a screw nutcracker.

	R & C G maker's mark found on a copper coffee percolator. Identification of the maker welcome.

	Jurst mark in a crown under a long-legged bird under a brass spirit kettle. Berliner Metallwarenfabrik, H. A. Jurst & Co., founded 1847, became part of Fankonia Co in 1925 but continued for some years after that (Thanks to D Vladov & Bahner, Berlin) . (Photo: Marianna Beem)

	Musterschutz Another term for protection of registered designs used from late 19th to early 20th centuries. It is seen on both cast and wrought brassware but occurs most often under ceramic steins and some plaques.

	Kannenberg, Germany, maker unknown, details welcome. This mark on a lidded pot copper, brass and pewter in the secessionist style of Wiener Werkstatte.

	J P Kayser & Son of Krefeld-Bochum, near Düsseldorf, Germany were originally 'Leuconide Metalware Factory, founded around 1885. They were tin manufacturers and developed a lead-free pewter with the trade name 'Kayserzinn' from 1894 to 1912. Under Jean and Engelbert Kayser, this was used in the making of Jugendstil items designed in Cologne by Hugo Leven and others. They also produced well-made copper and brass items and used the mark shown here, found under a 1.5 litre brass spirit kettle c1895. Other marks were used for the pewter items, numbered from 4,000 to 4999 during the period 1894-1925.
	http://www.achome.co.uk/pictorial/liberty.htm http://www.drawrm.com/metal.htm
	This is a clearer example of the logo showing an eagle on a branch and looking right with a snake in the beak. It was found under a spirit kettle.

	Lehman Brothers, Germany, copper and brass holloware. Their agents in Britain were possibly Adolp Frankenau & Co of 121, Queen Victoria Street, London EC. Lehman now make the LGB (Lehman Gross Bahn) range of garden railway models. This mark was used for items sold in the USA.

	NMK, Neues Münchner Kunstgewerbe, (New Munich Arts and Crafts) founded in 1919 by Alois Wörle, a gold and silversmith from Munich, Germany. (Thanks to Tom of www.925-1000.com). (Photo by Elizabeth Nevin).

	Nürnberg Handwork Guild with the initials of the Bavarian museums.

	GMT & Brc., Germany, unknown mark on a brass tea caddy.

	L.W. mark of Louis Wiener, inventor of a patented coffee percolator with an 1898 design registration and patent number. This item was made by F & R Fischer. (Thanks to Alastair Lamont)

	WMF (Würtemburgische Machin Fabrik AG), originally founded in 1853 in Geislingen an der Steige, Germany. A variety of marks have been used during their 150 years of production. The well known 'ostrich' mark originates from the German word for ostrich, 'Der Strauss' after Daniel Straub, one of the founders. The 'G' in the mark stands for the town of Geislingen, on the River Fils and near Ulm in Baden-Württemburg. See main page for more details of WMF

	Wümak Berlin. Würtemburgische Metallmanufaktur Adolf Knecht G.m.b.H, established 1899 in Cannstadt, Stuttgart, Germany. The firm has specialised in paper oil filters for the automotive industry since 1933. Mark found under a pair of brass vases.

	Mark for Eugen Zint who had a copperworks at Riedlingen, Baden Württemberg, on the River Danube in South West Germany. He produced high quality pieces c1930 and had an association with Bauhaus design architecture. (Photo courtesy Barbara Turner, information from Ross Jackson and vendors).

	Maker's mark by another coppersmith, identity unknown. Information welcome.

	Copper Museum Pähl-Fischen a.Ammersee, not far from Munich, Germany. Below are some marks found on items on display. (Thanks to Karin & Ulrich Burchard)	www.kupfermuseumfischen.de.

	Makers and their Marks