Where was the famous Berndorf metalware factory located?
I present here a few historical facts which are necessary to understand the marks used by this company. The famous Berndorf Metalware Factory (in German Berndorfer Metallwaarenfabrik) was founded in 1843 in the small village of Berndorf, situated in the region Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) of the Austria-Hungarian Empire.
Who was the owner of the Berndorf foundry?
After the death of Alexander Schoeller (in 1886), Arthur Krupp paid a large sum of money to his heirs and in 1890 became the sole owner of the company. From 1891 his name appears on the mark of the Berndorf foundry.
Why are there bear marks on Berndorf candlesticks?
Due to the assonance between the words Berndorf and Bärendorf (in German the last word means “bear village”), many of the factory marks contain a bear profile. A high-quality silver-plated candlestick, issued byBMF Alexander Schoeller between 1852 and 1865.
What does the BMF Alexander Schoeller Mark mean?
A first round BMF Alexander Schoeller mark for high-quality silver-plating consists of the round inscription “BERNDORF ALPACCASILBER”, with the image of the “standing bear” with paws out and legs separated, put in the centre of the circle. Note the absence of any dots in the inscription.
What did Berndorf metalware factory mark No.7 mean?
Recently, I have found a photo of a gravy boat, marked with the “tiger-skinned bear”, it was bearing an additional inscription “Berndorfer Metalwaarenfabrik/Wien”, which refers to the Vienna Jubilee Manufacture Exhibition, held in 1888. This confirms my previous dating of the mark No.7.
After the death of Alexander Schoeller (in 1886), Arthur Krupp paid a large sum of money to his heirs and in 1890 became the sole owner of the company. From 1891 his name appears on the mark of the Berndorf foundry.
Due to the assonance between the words Berndorf and Bärendorf (in German the last word means “bear village”), many of the factory marks contain a bear profile. A high-quality silver-plated candlestick, issued byBMF Alexander Schoeller between 1852 and 1865.
A first round BMF Alexander Schoeller mark for high-quality silver-plating consists of the round inscription “BERNDORF ALPACCASILBER”, with the image of the “standing bear” with paws out and legs separated, put in the centre of the circle. Note the absence of any dots in the inscription.
