Recently, I published two Members' Windows in the ASCAS Newsletter Journal devoted to hollow ware marks used by the Warsaw silver plate companies Józef Fraget [1] and Norblin [2]. These firms were founded in the first quarter of the XIXth century, in 1824 and 1819, respectively, and they both pioneered galvanic silver-plate production in Russia in 1850-1860. Other Warsaw firms also started to apply this cutting-edge technology, first Brothers Henneberg [3] and Brothers Buch [3] (between 1872 and 1882) and later, (in 1885-1888), Wola factory [3], Roman Plewkiewicz [3], and Schiffers [3]. By the end of the XIXth century practically all Russian manufacture of silver-plated tableware and utensils was concentrated in Warsaw.

It should be remembered that, before 1850, in Russia all silver-plated objects were produced by soldering of a thin sheet of silver to a red-heated copper plate with subsequent rolling [3,4]. Such a copper base with a fused silver layer was called "SILVER PLATE" or simply "PLATE" ("PLAQUÉ" in French, "PLATER" in Polish). However, in the second quarter of the XIXth century a revolutionary method of silver deposition on the surface of a base metal using the electrolysis process under high voltage was invented (the first patent was given to the Elkington cousins in England in 1840) and successfully applied by Christofle in France in 1844. The great advantage of this "galvanic" approach was the possibility of a very thin silver layer deposition, which led to the economic consumption of precious metal and a significant decrease in price for the final product. Towards the end of the XIXth century the galvanic method of silver deposition practically replaced the former soldering-based silver plating technique. Nevertheless, until now in Polish and English 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.

The literature data on the above-mentioned Warsaw companies and especially on their marks are very scarce. Some information can be found in Polish sources [5,6]. It should be noted that my investigation concerns only silver-plated hollow ware, such as teapots, coffee-pots, creamers, tea glass holders, etc., and does not touch the marks of the cutlery. Even such a simplified task was not easy to accomplish.

Now I am presenting the brief history of Warsaw silver plate producers mentioned above.

Bros. Henneberg.

This company was founded in 1856 by Juliusz Henneberg (1835-1907), former turner from Fraget factory, and bronzesmith Michal Czajkowski, under the name Henneberg & Czajkowski. In 1870, the brother of Juliusz, Wilhelm, joins the company and it changes its name to Brothers Henneberg & Czajkowki (Bracia Henneberg i Czajkowski in Polish). Finally, in 1874 Michal Czajkowski leaves the business, and since then the firm was called Bros. Henneberg (Bracia Henneberg in Polish, or, shortly, Br. Henneberg or even B. Henneberg). The number of workers grew rapidly: from 90 in 1872 to 150 in 1884. In 1887, Wilhelm Henneberg retires, however, soon the sons of Juliusz, Julian and Stanislaw, join the foundry and the company survives under the old name. After the death of Juliusz Henneberg, his son Julian guides the business.

In 1904 the number of employees reached 320. Bros. Henneberg became the third Warsaw silver plate enterprise, after Fraget and Norblin. However, the production decreased significantly after 1914 due to World War I and following global financial crisis (in 1929). In 1939, with the occupation of Poland by the Nazis, the firm Br.Henneberg stopped its production. After World War II, in 1945, the factory was reopened, but then nationalized. Finally, in 1965, the firm Bros. Henneberg was merged with another Warsaw silver plate foundry, Fraget, to form a new state company "HEFRA".

FURTHER AND MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN THE ARTICLE WARSAW SILVER PLATE COMPANIES: III. BROTHERS HENNEBERG.

Bros. Buch.

This company first was known under the German name Gebrüder Buch. As early as 1809 this firm opened a factory in St. Petersburg mainly producing the buttons for army uniforms. Around 1860 Gebrüder Buch decided to open a branch in Warsaw and commissioned two jewellers of German origin, Agaton Buch and Ludwik Mauss. I do not know whether Agaton was one of the Brothers Buch or a relative of theirs. In 1865, these people bought a Neusilber factory in Warsaw, opened in 1830 by Gebrüder Henniger & Co., renowned pioneer of Neusilber production, who opened a Neusilber foundry in Berlin as early as 1824. Neusilber is known under different trade names, such as Alpacca, Argentan, Alfenide, Maillechort, etc. The Warsaw branch of Gebrüder Henniger company was operated by Gustaw Henniger. Again, I do not know if Gustaw was one of the Brothers Henniger or not. In 1872 the whole company Gebrüder Buch was honoured by a Gold Medal at the Moscow Exhibition and got the right to print Russian State Coat of Arms on his production. The Warsaw branch of Bros. Buch also started to print a two-headed eagle on his silver plate items, but this didn't save the foundry from the bankruptcy. In 1882 this firm was absorbed by their former trade partner, Norblin & Co. However, Bros. Buch continued to produce the items under their own mark until at least 1893.

Wola factory.

Not too much is known about this foundry. It was founded in 1885 in the Warsaw suburb Wola by Abraham Luria and S. Krongold and had a name "Britania", which was never used. At the end of the XIXth century the Wola area was included to Warsaw. This factory cooperated with Bros. Henneberg company.

Plewkiewicz.

The firm "Factory of silver-plated and gilded items Roman Plewkiewicz & Co." was founded in 1886 as a branch of the famous Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (in English Württemberg Metalware Factory) or WMF. First Plewkiewicz performed only the silvering of the base-metal items brought from Germany. Beginning in 1890, R. Plewkiewicz started the production of fashionable silver-plated table ware with coloured glass inlets, including home-made items, which constituted ~ 15% of total production. The home-made items, as well as pieces imported from Germany and silver-plated in Warsaw, were marked similarly. As a result, the R. Plewkiewicz foundry experienced a quick growth particularly, due to a well-organized net of travelling salesmen. In 1900, after the retirement of Roman Plewkiewicz, the firm was transformed to joint-stock company, which survived until the beginning of World War I.

For the collectors, Plewkiewicz silver-plated items made in Warsaw are as sought after as the original pieces coming from Württemberg. Recently, an Art Nouveau sugar-bowl with a glass inlet made by Plewkiewicz was sold on ebay auction for 250 euros.

Schiffers.

The firm Andrzej Boleslaw Schiffers & Co (or, shortly, A.B. Schiffers & Co.) was founded in 1888 by Andrzej Boleslaw Schiffers and Jan Solinger. In 1907, the foundry "Factory of Silver-Plated and Gilded Metal Ware A.B. Schiffers i S-ka" was transformed into the joint-stock company.