BSF Platura Silver Plated Flatware Piece
Flatware · BSF (Bremische Silberwaren-Fabrik), a well-known German silver manufacturer founded in Bremen, Germany, in 1894, recognized for producing quality tableware and silver-plated goods.
Pattern: Platura line by BSF, featuring a classic, functional mid-20th-century design often found in European households.
Type
Flatware
Maker
BSF (Bremische Silberwaren-Fabrik), a well-known German silver manufacturer founded in Bremen, Germany, in 1894, recognized for producing quality tableware and silver-plated goods.
Material
Silver Plated over a base metal (typically nickel-silver or Alpacca). The mark includes '90', indicating the standard German silver plating measurement representing 90 grams of pure silver used to plate a surface area corresponding to a standard dozen table spoons.
Dimensions
Standard flatware dimensions typical for European table cutlery; weight is characteristic of silver-plated base metal items rather than solid sterling.
Description
A well-preserved piece of German silver-plated flatware featuring clear maker's marks from Bremische Silberwaren-Fabrik (BSF). The handle displays clean, functional lines characteristic of post-war European table service design, combining durability with understated elegance.
Key Features
Distinctive 'BSF' and 'Platura' manufacturer stamps combined with the German '90' silver-plate quality mark enclosed in a diamond shape.
Material & Composition
Silver Plated over a base metal (typically nickel-silver or Alpacca). The mark includes '90', indicating the standard German silver plating measurement representing 90 grams of pure silver used to plate a surface area corresponding to a standard dozen table spoons.
Finish & Decoration
Polished metal finish with subtle dual-line border detailing typical of mid-century minimalist or functionalist European flatware design.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Stamps include 'BSF' in a rectangular cartouche for the manufacturer, 'Platura' for the line/alloy designation, a diamond shape containing '90' indicating the German silver-plate quality standard, and a '3' in a square stamp denoting specific batch, size, or plating thickness categorization.
Construction Details
Machine-manufactured and die-struck, typical of mid-20th-century mass-production standards for European silver-plated flatware.
Functional Features
Designed for everyday dining utility, offering an ergonomic grip contour along the handle stem.
Handle & Grip Details
Tapered handle with subtle ridged edge profiling designed for comfortable everyday dining use.
Craftsmanship Details
Clean die-struck edges, crisp and deep hallmark stamping, and even plating distribution reflective of established German industrial manufacturing standards.
Authentication Indicators
Authentic mid-20th-century German industrial stamping, featuring the correct font styles, standard '90' silver-plate metric, and maker cartouche utilized by BSF.
Origin & Manufacturing
Made in Bremen, Germany, by Bremische Silberwaren-Fabrik, adhering to traditional German metalworking and plating standards.
Era & Period
Mid-Century Modern / Post-War Period (c. 1950s-1970s), indicated by the specific style of the maker's stamp and the '90 3' plating indicators common to German manufacturing of that era.
Age Estimate
Circa 1950-1975, based on the typography of the 'Platura' logo and the standard German numerical plating hallmarks.
Cultural Significance
Represents the widespread post-war European shift toward durable, accessible silver-plated tableware for everyday domestic dining.
Condition Notes
Good vintage condition with minor surface micro-scratches consistent with gentle use and age. No base metal bleed-through is visible on the plating, indicating robust initial quality.
Value Estimate
Modest collector and replacement market value, typically ranging from $10 to $30 depending on the specific piece type (fork, spoon, knife) and overall condition.
Care & Maintenance
Hand wash with mild soap and warm water. Dry immediately with a soft cloth to prevent water spots. Use a gentle silver polish specifically formulated for plated items only when necessary to preserve the thin silver layer.
Similar Pieces
German silver-plated flatware by contemporary makers such as WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik) or Wellner bearing similar '90' plating grade marks.
Interesting Facts
The '90' mark is part of the traditional German plating standard system, which measures silver quantity by weight relative to a standardized set of tableware items rather than fractional purity.