ASCAS Association of Small Collectors of Antique Silver
ASSOCIATION OF SMALL COLLECTORS OF ANTIQUE SILVER
ASCAS
Members' Window # 101
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by Dr. David N. Nikogosyan
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MARKS OF EUROPEAN SILVER PLATE:
XIII. NORBLIN, RUSSIA/POLAND

(Revised & Updated Version of Members' Window # 57)

Three years ago I published a Members' Window in ASCAS newsletter devoted to the Warsaw silver plate factories Fraget and Norblin [1]. Since then I found new material, both in literature and in my recent acquisitions, which has allowed me the revising and updating of the Fraget part of my previous Members' Window [2]. Now it is time to revise the Norblin part.

The history of the Norblin company is well known [3,4,5,6]. Vincent Norblin (1805-1872) was born in Paris. His life story reads like a cheap fiction. At the age of fourteen, Vincent appeared in Warsaw, where his father, the jeweller Alexandre Jean Constantin Norblin (1777-1828), together with Vincent’s uncles was running a small enterprise, a bronze foundry (founded in 1819). After his apprenticeship at his father’s factory and studies abroad, Vincent found work in Warsaw in a silver company managed by the French jeweller Jean Cerisy (in 1822). Cerisy had married the daughter of Filip Vorbrodt, a local businessman of German origin, who moved to Warsaw from the small German principality of Anhalt. After the death of Filip Vorbrodt, the wife of Cerisy, Henriette Leopoldina Augusta, inherited her father's silver company. However, in 1831, Jean Cerisy died suddenly and Vincent Norblin (Wincenty Norblin in Polish) married his widow and became the boss of the firm.

In 1843, Wincenty Norblin, together with Jan Meylert, former associate of Cerisy, organised the new jewellery firm Norblin i Spólka (Norblin & Co.), where the bronze foundry of his father was also included. After that, Wincenty permanently renewed the machinery in his factory, which resulted in a steady increase of the production, and in 1853-1855, following the latest improvement at the Fraget factory, implemented the galvanic silver deposition. After the death of Jan Meylert in 1863, Wincenty became the sole owner of Norblin i Spólka. In 1865, seven years before his death, he transferred the factory to his son Ludwik Norblin (1/2 of the total capital) and to his daughter Albertina Wilhelmina together with the son-in-law Teodor Werner (the other 1/2 of the capital). Teodor Werner was a rather rich businessman and owned his own silversmith enterprise. Interestingly, after the dividing of the Wincenty Norblin heritage, both companions continued their own business: Ludwik Norblin produced silver plated items, while Teodor Werner made items from sterling silver. In 1870, Norblin & Co. won a silver medal at Russian Manufacture Exhibition in St. Petersburg and got the right to print the State Coat of Arms on his items [7].

In 1882 Ludwik Norblin (1836-1914) purchased a factory from Brothers Buch (Gebruder Buch, in German or Bracia Buch in Polish). After that the name of the company changed to Norblin i S-ka i Bracia Buch. Again, all three companions continued for a while to use old marks. The number of workers employed by the company quickly grew from 112 in 1879 to 600 in 1890. In 1893 this firm was transferred to a joint-stock company under the name: "Metal Factories Norblin, Bracia Buch & T. Werner (N.B.W.) in Warsaw". In 1896, the N.B.W. company won a Grand Prix for its participation in All-Russia Fair in Nizhnii Novgorod and received again the right to print the State Coat of Arms on its production [5,6]. In 1908, the N.B.W. firm patented a new tin alloy "Verit" to be used as a base metal for silvering.

It should be reminded 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 [7,8]. Such 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 great advantage of the "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. To 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.

In contrast to Fraget, who kept its fusion-based silver plate production until the beginning of the XXth century, Norblin stopped applying the old (fusion-based) plating technique soon after 1870 and since that used only the galvanic silver deposition method. Hence, before 1870 the marks of Norblin should refer to both fusion-based and galvanic methods of silver deposition.

The literature information about Norblin marks is extremely scarce. Recent Polish monographs [5,6] list only a few of its marks and apply a very rough dating. Though my current investigation allowed me to construct a logical system of Norblin marks, probably more efforts will be needed in the future to conclude finally this area of research.

After this long introduction, I am listing the hollow ware marks of the Norblin firm which at the moment are at my disposal.


Marks used by Norblin and N.T.W. companies.

PERIOD & MARK
COMMENT
1








 
c.1840 - c.1851
Norblin mark c.1840 - c.1851

The earliest mark of Norblin which refers to fusion-based silver deposition. It has the inscription in Polish "WARSZAWA NORBLIN & Co" ("WARSAW NORBLIN & Co") + the year of production inside the oval. Very rare.





 

2











 
c.1851 - c.1853
Norblin mark c.1851 - c.1853

Next Norblin mark which also refers to fusion-based silver deposition. It has the inscription in Polish "WARSZAWA NORBLIN & Co" ("WARSAW NORBLIN & Co") inside the oval + one French word "PLAQUÉ" under the oval. Very rare.








 

3























 
c.1853 - c.1855
Norblin mark c.1853 - c.1855 Norblin mark c.1853 - c.1855

This Norblin mark is a variation of the mark No.2 with the writing of "NORBLIN & Co" in two lines instead of one. In contrast to the previous mark in some cases it has a dot (!) after the word "PLAQUÉ". I think that the presence of a dot could be connected with the use of galvanic-based silver deposition, while the absence of the dot could be connected with the use of fusion-based silver deposition. Very rare.

















 

4






















 
c.1855 - c.1857
Norblin mark c.1855 - c.1857 Norblin mark c.1855 - c.1857

Next mark differs from mark No.3 by a rounder shape of the oval. Again, the absence/presence of the dot after the word "PLAQUÉ" could be connected with fusion-based/galvanic technique of silver deposition. Very rare.



















 

5








 
c.1857 - c.1860








 

According to the description of Wysiadecki collection [6], items 166-169, this Norblin mark differs from the mark No.4 by the disposition of French inscription "PLAQUÉ", which is laid in a cartouche (rectangle) below the oval. In addition, in some cases the rhombus with "N" letter is used. The presence of "PLAQUÉ" inscription in a cartouche means fusion-based silver deposition, while the additional rhombus with "N" letter refers to galvanic technique of silver deposition. Such system of marking is similar to that used by Fraget in the same period. Very rare/Extremely rare.

6












 
c.1860 - c.1870
Norblin mark c.1860 - c.1870

Next Norblin mark refers to only fusion-based silver deposition. It consists of the inscription in Polish "NORBLIN & Co PLATER WARSZAWA" ("NORBLIN & Co PLATE WARSAW") inside the oval, the size of which is about 7.8 mm x 9.4 mm. Note the famous French sign "Fleur de Lis" (lily flower), put to the left and to the right of the inscription "PLATER", which is probably connected with the French origin of Norblin company. Very rare.






 

7











































































 
c.1860 - c.1870
Norblin mark c.1860 - c.1870 Norblin mark c.1860 - c.1870 Norblin mark c.1860 - c.1870 Norblin mark c.1860 - c.1870 Norblin mark c.1860 - c.1870

This Norblin mark refers to galvanic silver deposition only. It differs from the previous mark No.6 by two characteristic details: the absence of the oval and the presence of the inscription "GALW". Note  the colon (!) after the inscription "GALW" made of    two quadratic points, which again corresponds to Fraget mark    used in the same period. The inscription "GALW" is the shortening of Polish word "GALWANIZACJA"     ("GALVANIZATION") and refers to the method of silver deposition. The Polish inscription "NORBLIN & Co GALW: WARSZAWA"  ("NORBLIN & Co GALV: WARSAW") forms the oval. The size of the oval is about 7 mm x 9 mm. Similar to the mark No.6, the stylized French symbol sign "Fleur de Lis" (lily flower) is used. In earlier version of this mark the catalogue number with a large dot (!) was applied. Later, similar to Fraget mark of the same period, the small oval with "N" letter appears, which means “normal thickness of silver deposited onto the surface of the base metal (usually on brass)". Note the simultaneous disappearance of the dot after the catalogue number. Finally, in the later version of this mark, the circle with the swan image under the Star of David in some cases was applied. Very rare/Rare.
























































 

8
























 
c.1870 - c.1883
Norblin mark c.1870 - c.1883 Norblin mark c.1870 - c.1883

Next Norblin mark is the last one which refers to fusion-based silver deposition. It is mentioned in the description of Wysiadecki collection [6], items 196 and 207. It is similar to the Norblin mark No.6, over-printed image with the Coat of Arms of Russian Empire (two-headed eagle, version with a "separated" crown, used in 1857 - 1883). As I do not possess the photo of this mark, I am presenting its characteristic details only. Extremely rare.


















 

9






















































 
c.1872 - c.1883
Norblin mark c.1872 - c.1883 Norblin mark c.1872 - c.1883 Norblin mark c.1872 - c.1883 Norblin mark c.1872 - c.1883

This Norblin mark refers to galvanic silver deposition. It differs from the mark No.7 by two characteristic details: firstly, the reappearance of the oval, and, secondly, the presence of the Coat of Arms of Russian Empire (two-headed eagle, version with a “separated” crown, used in 1857 - 1883). Note that the colon after the inscription "GALW" is made of two quadratic points as before. Attention! Very often one of two points is missing. The size of the oval varies between 8.1 mm x 10.7 mm and 8.5 mm x 12 mm. The circle with the swan image under the Star of David is absent. Sometimes, the letter "N" in a small oval, which means "normal thickness of silver deposited onto the surface of the base metal (usually on brass)," is present. Common.











































 

10

























































 
c.1883 - c.1896
Norblin mark c.1883 - c.1896 Norblin mark c.1883 - c.1896 Norblin mark c.1883 - c.1896 Norblin mark c.1883 - c.1896

Next Norblin mark refers to galvanic silver deposition. It differs from the previous mark No.9 by three characteristic features: firstly, by disappearance of Russian State Coat of Arms; secondly, by appearance of a dot (!) after the word "WARSZAWA"; and, thirdly, by the use of two round dots to form a colon after the inscription "GALW". The mean size of oval is 8 mm x 10 mm. Sometimes, the letter "N" inside a rhombus (or inside a small oval), is used. That means "normal thickness of silver deposited onto the surface of the base metal (usually on brass)". In some cases, the circle with the swan image under the Star of David appears. Common.















































 

11

























































 
c.1896 - c.1901
Norblin mark c.1896 - c.1901 Norblin mark c.1896 - c.1901 Norblin mark c.1896 - c.1901 Norblin mark c.1896 - c.1901

This Norblin mark refers to galvanic silver deposition. It differs from the mark No.10 by four essential features: firstly, the appearance of Russian State Coat of Arms, which according to last editing made in 1883, has a crown "glued" to the two-headed eagle; secondly, the use of Polish inscription "NORBLIN i Ska" instead of English "NORBLIN & Co"; thirdly, the appearance of a dot after the word "GALW" instead of a colon, and fourthly, the disappearance of a dot after the word "WARSZAWA". The mean size of the oval decreases down to 4.9 mm x 6.7 mm. The letter "N" inside a rhombus means "normal thickness of silver deposited onto the surface of the base metal (usually on brass)". Rare.














































 

12



























































 
c.1901 - c.1906
Norblin mark c.1901 - c.1906 Norblin mark c.1901 - c.1906 Norblin mark c.1901 - c.1906 Norblin mark c.1901 - c.1906

Next Norblin mark also refers to galvanic technique of silver deposition. It differs from the previous mark No.11 by a return from Polish inscription "NORBLIN i Ska" to the English one "NORBLIN & Co". The mean size of the oval corresponds to that for the mark No.10, namely, 4.9 mm x 6.8 mm. The letter "N" in a small oval means "normal thickness of silver deposited onto the surface of the base metal (usually on brass)". Rare.





















































 

13








































 
c.1906 - c.1914
Norblin mark c.1906 - c.1914 Norblin mark c.1906 - c.1914 Norblin mark c.1906 - c.1914

This Norblin mark also refers to the galvanic silver deposition. It differs from the previous mark No.12 by the printing of two main mark elements, the oval and the two-headed eagle, as bas-reliefs on a flat surface. The size of the oval varies between 4.4 mm x 5.8 mm and 5.3 mm x 7.1 mm. The letter "N" inside a rhombus (or inside a small oval) means "normal thickness of silver deposited onto the surface of the base metal (usually on brass)". Relatively common.

































 

14






















 
c.1908 - c.1914
Norblin mark c.1908 - c.1914 Norblin mark c.1908 - c.1914

This mark of N.B.W. company was applied when using the newly-invented tin alloy VERIT as a base metal for silvering. This mark consists of convex triangle of 6.9 mm height and 7.5 mm width. Inside the triangle under the Russian State Coat of Arms is the inscription "VERIT N.B.W.". Rare.


















 

15













 
after 1914
Norblin mark after 1914

A variation of Norblin mark No.13 without the Russian State Coat of Arms. Rare.












 

Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge the help of two people, Mr. Sergei Kruglov, who shared with me the photographs of Norblin marks from his collection of tea glass holders, and Mr. Alexander Maroutian, who allowed me to photograph the marks on Norblin pieces from his collection. My e-mail address is niko@phys.ucc.ie. Any comments, questions or letters with additional information are very welcome. However, please do not send any requests for valuation and/or expertise, such letters will be ignored.

LITERATURE

[1] David N. Nikogosyan. Marks of European Silver Plate: II. Fraget & Norblin, Poland/Russia. http://www.silvercollection.it/ASCASFRAGET.html, 2009.

[2] David N. Nikogosyan. Marks of European Silver Plate: XII. Fraget, Russia/Poland http://www.ascasonline.org/windowAGOS99.html.

[3] Wincenty Norblin. http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wincenty_Norblin [in Polish].

[4] Ludwik Norblin. http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwik_Wincenty_Norblin [in Polish].

[5] Joanna Paprocka-Gajek. Platery Warszawskie w Latach 1822-1914. Warszawa: Muzeum Palac w Wilanowie, 2010, pp.1-375 [in Polish]. English translation: Silver Plated Items produced by Warsaw factories in 1822-1914.

[6] Maria Ejchmann. Platery. Katalog Zbioru Platerów Warszawskich im. Anieli i Tadeusza Wysiadeckich. Warszawa: Muzeum Woli, 2005, pp.1-107 [in Polish]. English translation: Warsaw Silver Plate. Catalogue of the collection, gathered by Aniela and Tadeusz Wysiadecki.

[7] Svetlana Kaikova. Silver Replacement Techniques in Russia. Antiques, Art and Collectables, N°1, pp.65-78 (2002) [in Russian].

[8] Elena Elkova. "Plaqué" and "Doublé" Techniques in French Silver Plate Production. Antiques, Art and Collectables, N°4 (46), pp.76-84 (2007) [in Russian].
Dr. David N. Nikogosyan
- 2012 -