
Whimsical c.1900 - 1910 Silver Vanity Tray or Wall Plaque by Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik Germany, otherwise referred to as WMF. This is a sweet art nouveau piece, which features on the right a barefoot little girl feeding two kittens (cats.) They are nuzzling up to her while she prepares to feed them. The top of the tray has open metal work details, which are the branches of the flowers. The cats and the girl are on a raised platform and the entire piece has exceptional details and repousse design. There is more open metal work on the sides. This is one over several WMF display trays that I have listed, which all come from the same serious collection. They are all marked (stamp too small to take a photo of) ostrich mark; IO; OX with the number 373 in relief.
CONDITION: The condition is excellent. There is no damage or repairs. It hasn"t been over cleaned and the original patina remains great. Only needs a bit of a buffing.
SIZE: This is a large piece, measuring 9 1/2 inches high x 5 7/8 inches wide.
WMF in Geistlingen/Steige was founded in 1880 by a Merger of the two Companies Straub & Sohn and A. Ritter & Co. They soon became famous for extremly innovative and stylish JUGENDSTIL metalworks made of brass, copper & silver plate.
Growing very fast WMF acquired quite a few further companies such as AK & CIE (Albert Köhler und Cie), Orivit AG from Cologne and the ORION Kunstgewerbliche Metallwarenfabrik.
Many famous artists and designers worked for WMF: Hans Peter, Albert Meyer, Rudolf Meyer, Herman Obrist, Albin Müller and last but not least also Peter Behrens.
WMF´s company´s trademark in the Jugendstil period was an ostrich.
Andrea, your store is a wonderful treasure trove and your knowledge and class are of a scholarly collector.
I am a university research professor with an eye for detail. I have never seen any vendor with your level of exquisite scholarship. Just like your fine objets d'art, your descriptions are crafted with masterful finesse; it is such a pleasure reading them and it is also a great learning experience. Thanks again! Patrick
Deco Deva
Proprietor
Downsizing was inevitable and I've done it several times already. This is the big one, and I am still unboxing treasures retrieved from storage after decades.
All pieces are one of a kind handpicked by yours truly over 40 years to add texture, style and story to your authentic style.
My collecting story starts after watching Astaire and Rogers float across a dance floor as a young girl, I have loved art deco design, art, fashion and jewelry. So bold and beautiful, and so different from anything that came before it. Art deco changed social and design sensibilities forever. A lifetime collector of high quality antiques and vintage, I started by making contacts, researching and learning. Picking the best of the best, I live with art deco and vintage decor and used to wear the fashions of the day. To say that I feel in love is an understatement. I reveled in the fact that I was able to reflect my unique style and sensibilities with a marriage of old and new.
Since I was in my teens I have bought what pleases me, what I find beautiful and unique, and the things that speak to me on a creative level. I hope that you can see and feel the passion and love that I feel for antiques and vintage pieces and share with you. You will find art deco, collectible and vintage fine art paintings, original illustrations and magazine covers, home decor, marble, alabaster and metal lamps, nude flapper table lamps, sterling silver decorative accents and tableware for the home and entertaining, designer and estate jewelry and fine vintage watches in my shop.