WARSAW SILVER PLATE COMPANIES: I. JOSEPH FRAGET

Nearly 200 years ago two French jewellers, the brothers Alphonse and Joseph Fraget, arrived in Warsaw to start the production of relatively cheap silver table ware (see Literature 1, 2). At that time Warsaw was the capital of the newly-established Kingdom of Poland (by Vienna Congress in 1815), which was a kind of pseudo-autonomous state inside the Russian Empire and was ruled by the tsar Alexander I. Warsaw authorities, trying to revive the local economy after the Napoleonic wars, were very interested in foreign investment, especially in that connected with novel technologies. Indeed, the silver items produced by brothers Fraget looked like silver items but in reality were made of copper covered by a thin silver layer. The innovative method of silver deposition was developed in France towards the end of the XVIIIth century, however, it was still a newcomer in this part of Europe in the beginning of the XIXth century. This new French technology involved soldering of a thin silver sheet to the red-heated copper plate with subsequent rolling (so-called, "rolled silver" plating techniques). Such copper base with a fused silver layer was called "SILVER PLATE" or simply "PLATE" ("PLAQUÉ" in French, "PLATER" in Polish) (see Literature 3).

Portrait of Joseph Fraget (1797-1867). Courtesy of Warsaw University Library.

According to the decree brought out by the Russian tsar, each newly-organized foundry in the Kingdom of Poland received a significant state support together with a number of other privileges, including a right of customless trade on the huge Russian market (see Literature 4). The first factory of Fraget brothers was built on Jasna Street (Bright Str.), which would be in the centre of nowadays Warsaw. Already in 1830, the firm received its first award (silver medal) for the high quality of its products and artistic design, thus establishing the flawless reputation which was kept over a long period of time.

An 1840 Fraget teapot fabricated by rolled-silver technique.

Very soon after that, in the beginning of the 1840s, the firm of Fraget brothers was transformed to Joseph Fraget enterprise (in Polish Józef Fraget). The elder brother Alphonse returned to France and became interested in stereography and daguerreotypy. Interestingly, in the latter process a silver-covered copper plate was used as a photosensitive element. Meanwhile, Józef Fraget decided to expand his business and in 1844 bought a large piece of land on Electoralna Street (Electoral Str.) 753, Warsaw for his factory. This was strategically a very wise decision. Soon his firm became one of the most modern and well-equipped silver plate foundries in Eastern Europe.

A silver-plated creamer produced by Joseph Fraget factory in 1854. Private collection of David N. Nikogosyan.

In 1847 Józef Fraget travelled to Paris, Berlin and Vienna, some kind of a wandering trip, and became familiar with the newest technology of galvanic silver deposition on copper and brass used by Charles Christofle & Co. in Paris, France. After his return to Warsaw in 1849, he totally refurbished the factory, adding a smelting department for the preparation of Neusilber (Alpaca) alloy and a laboratory for galvanic studies. He even enticed one of the best chemists working with Christofle to move to Warsaw. The great advantage of the "galvanic" approach used by Fraget since 1851 was the possibility of deposition of a very thin silver layer, which led to the economic consumption of precious metal and a significant decrease in price for the final product. It should be emphasized that to the end of the XIX century the galvanic method of silver deposition practically replaced the former rolled-silver plating technique. Nevertheless, until now in Polish and English art history literature the confusion remains; the Polish term "PLATER" and the English term "PLATE" refer simultaneously to both, old (fusion-based) and new (galvanic) silver deposition techniques.

Above: an advertisement of Joseph Fraget Company in three languages: French, Polish and Russian; it includes a medal given to the firm by the Russian Tsar Nicholas I in 1842 for its participation in the Warsaw exhibition; in the centre the new factory premises at Electoral Str. No.753 are shown; courtesy of Warsaw State Archives. Below: the front building of the factory today (photograph by Z. Reszka).

Somewhat later, in 1857, Józef Fraget purchased in Austria-Hungary a unique machine for the mass production of Neusilber-based cutlery, 150 dozens per day. The number of workers employed by the factory quickly grew from 17 workers in 1839, 45 - in 1845, 150 - in 1847, and to 239 workers in 1859. At that time it was one of the largest silver-plating enterprises in the world. Soon the inexpensive silver plate production of Joseph Fraget company became so popular in the Russian Empire that the word "fraget" became a synonym to any silver-plated item, including those issued by different companies. Another commonly used name for such a production was "Warszaw Silver".

Silver-plated tea glass holders fabricated by Joseph Fraget foundry between 1860 and 1896. Private collection of David N. Nikogosyan.

In 1867 Józef Fraget died and his son Julian Fraget became the manager of the company. He continued to increase the firm's production, but his main activity was the enlargement of the shops and trade missions' network. During the Eighties, the official name of the company was "Fabryka Wyrobów Srebrnych 84 Proby oraz Wyrobów Platerowanych na Miedzi i Novem Srebrze Józef Fraget", which means "Sterling Silver (84%) and Silver-Plated Copper- or Neusilber-Based Ware Factory Joseph Fraget". However, later this name was changed and the accent in the title was put on the silver-plated wares. This is obvious, because the firm got the highest profit from the silver-plated products (especially, from cutlery) and not from the sterling silver wares. In 1897 the firm was transformed into a joint-stock company under the name "Fabryka Wyrobów Platerowanych na Miedzi i Novem Srebrze i Srebrnych 84 Proby Józef Fraget", which means "Silver-Plated Copper- or Neusilber-Based and Sterling Silver (84%) Ware Factory Joseph Fraget". This last name was used until 1914.

Julian Fraget (1841-1906). Courtesy of Warsaw University Library.

An upper part of Joseph Fraget firm receipt, issued on 6th February 1891. Private Polish collection, copyright reserved.

In 1896 the Joseph Fraget firm participated in the All-Russia Trade Fair in Nizhnii Novgorod and deservedly was honoured by the right of using the image of the Russian State Coat of Arms (two-headed eagle) on its products. This fact allows us to distinguish easily the Fraget marks issued before and after this event, see the accompanying article in Member's Window Section of the same issue of ASCAS Newsletter.

In 1906 after a tragic accident and a long illness, Julian Fraget died and the guidance of the company was assumed by his daughter, Countess Maria Swiatopelk Mirska (1841-1938) and his son-in-law Count Czeslaw Swiatopelk Mirski. Nevertheless, in the beginning of the XX century the products made by the firm continued to win medals and awards on numerous exhibitions, including the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts held in Paris in 1925. Shops selling the Fraget silver plate operated all around the globe, e.g. in Alexandria, Athens, Buenos Aires, Budapest, Bucharest, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Lima, Mashhad, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tehran, etc.

A fragment of the cover of Joseph Fraget 1907 illustrated catalogue. Numerous medals won by the company at home and abroad are presented. Private Polish collection, copyright reserved.

Silver-plated tea- and coffee- pots, issued by Joseph Fraget factory between 1896 and 1915. Private collection of David N. Nikogosyan

After the death of Maria, her son Józef Swiatopelk Mirski became the last manager of the firm. In 1939, with the occupation of Poland by the Nazis, the firm Joseph Fraget stopped its production. After the World War II, in 1945, the factory was first reopened, then nationalized. Finally, in 1965 Joseph Fraget enterprise was merged with another Warsaw silver plate foundry, Brothers Henneberg, to form the new state company "HEFRA".

A Fraget candlestick, displayed in Paris at the International World Exhibition in 1900 (Grand Prix to Fraget Foundry), now in Sw. Karol Boromeusz (St. Charles Bartholomew) Church in Warsaw (photographs by Z. Reszka). Discovered and identified by one of the authors (J.P.G.).