Silver-plated letter holder with floral Art Nouveau decoration. The finely modelled front features three large blossoms with delicately sculpted, naturalistic leaves and tendrils, intertwining into a harmonious ornamental composition. The piece rests on a flat oval base whose flowing contours echo the organic forms of the motif.
The object dates from around 1900, the height of the European Art Nouveau period. Typical of this era are the fluid lines and organic shapes inspired by plants and flowers. In designs such as this, WMF combined decorative elegance with technical precision, turning functional objects into works of applied art.
Hallmarks
The letter holder is marked WMFB, as, I/O.
The mark “WMFB” stands for WMF Britannia Metal Factory, the English export mark of the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik. This hallmark was primarily used between approximately 1890 and 1914.
The abbreviation “I/O” means “single plated,” referring to a standard-grade silver plating. The designation “as” is an internal WMF production and model code identifying a specific design or finish rather than the metal composition.
The base material is typically Britannia metal (a tin–antimony–copper alloy) or Alpacca (a copper–nickel–zinc alloy), the standard substrates used by WMF around 1900 for electroplated silver objects.
About the Manufacturer: WMF
The Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF) was founded in Geislingen an der Steige in 1880 through the merger of two Württemberg firms: Daniel Straub’s Straub & Sohn works and Alfred Ritter’s A. Ritter & Co. foundry in Esslingen, which was integrated into the Geislingen plant in 1881.
WMF rapidly became one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of metal and silverware. Around 1900, the company’s name was synonymous with high-quality silver-plated art and table objects, prized both in Germany and on international markets.
During the Art Nouveau period, WMF set standards through innovative design, the use of modern electroplating techniques, and collaborations with artists and designers.
Silver-plated WMF products from the Art Nouveau era exemplify the craftsmanship and aesthetic ideals of the period and remain highly sought after by collectors of antique decorative arts.
Kunsthandel Art Flagey – Silver Objects, Art Nouveau & Decorative Arts circa 1900.
