WMF Silver Plated Flatware Piece
Flatware (Serving Piece or Utensil) · WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik), a prominent German metalware manufacturer founded in 1853 in Geislingen an der Steige, renowned for high-quality silver-plated wares and Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) designs.
Pattern: Standard WMF commercial flatware line utilizing the 90-gram plating standard; exact pattern unidentifiable from the maker mark alone.
Type
Flatware (Serving Piece or Utensil)
Maker
WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik), a prominent German metalware manufacturer founded in 1853 in Geislingen an der Steige, renowned for high-quality silver-plated wares and Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) designs.
Material
Silver Plated (Electroplated Silver on a base metal, typically nickel silver or Alpacca, indicated by the '90' mark denoting gram weight of pure silver used to plate a standard dozen pieces).
Dimensions
Standard dimensions for a European flatware piece; exact measurements and weight cannot be determined from the detail image alone.
Description
A close-up view of a stamped hallmark on a vintage silver-plated flatware piece produced by the renowned German manufacturer WMF. The image highlights the impressed maker's mark 'WMF 90-3' enclosed within a rectangular sunken cartouche against a heavily scratched and oxidized metallic surface. This mark serves as a direct indicator of German electroplating standards, reflecting the piece's commercial heritage and utilitarian design.
Key Features
Clearly legible 'WMF 90-3' hallmark stamp within a neat rectangular depressed cartouche, indicating standard German silver-plate quality and manufacturer identity.
Material & Composition
Silver Plated (Electroplated Silver on a base metal, typically nickel silver or Alpacca, indicated by the '90' mark denoting gram weight of pure silver used to plate a standard dozen pieces).
Finish & Decoration
Smooth metallic finish showing significant surface scratches and wear consistent with age and use.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Impressed maker mark reading 'WMF 90-3' inside a rectangular cartouche. 'WMF' stands for the manufacturer, '90' indicates the German silver plating standard (90 grams of pure silver per 24 dm² of surface area), and '-3' typically denotes a specific production batch, factory code, or thickness variation.
Construction Details
Industrial die-struck or stamped base metal blank subsequently electroplated, standard manufacturing technique for late 19th- to mid-20th-century European commercial silverware.
Functional Features
Designed for standard dining or serving use, depending on the specific flatware implement type.
Handle & Grip Details
Metal handle integral to the stamped flatware blank, sharing the same electroplated finish.
Craftsmanship Details
Machine-stamped and industrially electroplated commercial production, characterized by clean hallmark strikes and durable base metal construction.
Authentication Indicators
The crisp, cleanly struck letterforms and numbers inside the recessed rectangular cartouche are characteristic of authentic mid-20th-century WMF industrial stamping techniques, avoiding the blurry edges typical of modern counterfeit impressions.
Origin & Manufacturing
Geislingen an der Steige, Germany, produced by the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik factories utilizing industrial German metalworking traditions.
Era & Period
Mid-20th Century (typically 1920s to 1960s based on the specific sans-serif font styling and rectangular cartouche used for this WMF hallmark type).
Age Estimate
Circa 1930-1960, determined by the specific typographic style of the WMF mark and the numerical designation.
Cultural Significance
Reflects the democratization of refined dining in Europe, where middle-class households could afford durable, electroplated nickel-silver tableware that emulated solid silver aesthetics.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good condition. The visible surface displays extensive fine scratching, abrasions, and moderate tarnish accumulation indicative of frequent historical use and handling.
Value Estimate
Low to Moderate ($10 - $30 USD), as individual plated flatware pieces without a complete set context generally hold modest secondary market value.
Care & Maintenance
Clean gently with a dedicated silver cream or liquid polish using a soft microfiber cloth to avoid deepening surface scratches. Store in anti-tarnish cloth wraps or a dry environment.
Similar Pieces
German and European electroplated flatware pieces by makers such as Wellner, Krupp Berzdorf, or Christofle bearing numerical plating standard stamps.
Interesting Facts
WMF became the largest producer and exporter of household metalware in Germany by the turn of the 20th century and collaborated with the famous Art Nouveau design school at Schwabisch Gmund, known as the 'Art Nouveau / Jugendstil' period.