Christoph Widmann’s craftsmanship from the early part of the 20th century and beyond stands out among his contemporaries. His company began in 1918, and his designs are claimed to be the first of the Hildesheimer Rose patterns.
As always, photos of silver want to reflect everything in the room. Try to ignore those reflections; they are not flaws.
Pieces like Server A are called pierced or reticulated, pointing to the exquisite cut detail on the upper edge the piece. Look at the lovely turns and twists there and on the handle. Server B shows a beautiful example of the Hildesheim Rose on its handle. Notice, too, that the handle has a lovely arch away from the base, making the removal of that slice of pie a little easier. Several German (and American) silversmiths imitate this rose, but Widmann's stands out in detail and craftsmanship. Don't miss the story of that rose below.
Delightful servers like this make great wedding gifts or special pieces for any silver lover, I'm fond of gifting these to brides-to-be with a note about the origin of the piece and a bit of wonder about the families it first served...
Server A:
Dimensions: 8" x 2"
Material: 835 silver (the European standard for sterling)
Markings: 835 CW
Weight: 35 grams
Pattern: Mixed motif with Hildesheimer Rose accents
Server B:
Dimensions: 8.5" x 2"
Material: 835 silver (the European standard for sterling)
Markings: 835 CW
Weight: 51 grams
Pattern: Hildesheimer Rose
The story of the Hildesheim Rose, after which this piece is patterned, delights me. The pattern was produced to celebrate the thousand year old Rose at Hildesheim Cathedral, Germany. The oldest known rose alive today, it has withstood wars and time. Rising 69 feet at the Hildesheim Cathedral, it's an inspirational point for the German nation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand-year_RoseIf you’re shopping around, watch out for Hildesheimer pieces made of silver plate. This spoon is 800 silver, not silver plate. A word of caution...some sellers advertise silver when they are silver plate. Be sure that you can see the mark.
Since it's solid 800 silver, you don't have to worry about the finish wearing off with use. A simple polish removes any accumulating tarnish. (I prefer Hagerty Silversmith's wash with a tarnish preventative. Avoid using silver dips; they'll remove the lovely patina that gathers in the crevices to enhance the detail of these pieces.)
No monogram.
Commensurate with age, the condition is excellent.
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