German Hanau Silver Pierced Bonbon Dish - late 19th Century

Name: German Hanau Silver Pierced Bonbon Dish - late 19th Century
Brand: Looty
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Oval silver dish with intricate floral piercing and scrolled handles on a wooden and marble surface. - view 1

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Estimated value

$250 - $450

Rarity

Average(4/10)

GERMAN HANAU SILVER PIERCED BONBON DISH - LATE 19TH CENTURY: IDENTIFICATION

An oval-shaped silver bonbon dish featuring a wide border of hand-chased and pierced scrollwork with floral motifs. The vessel includes two cast foliate handles with shell-form terminations. The flat oval base provides stability and bears two distinct hallmarks on the exterior underside. The pierced openwork design is characteristic of German neo-Baroque revivals common in the late 19th century.

Compare with other decorative pieces in the archive: Mid-Century Modern Abstract Stone Sculpture on Marble Base, Amber Pressed Glass Tray - Starburst Pattern, Wall-Mounted Barometer and Thermometer.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Dutch Goldsmithing1750-1800

Pierced silver 'mandjes' (baskets) were a staple of 18th-century Dutch prestige dining, influencing later German revivals.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

•The 'Bonbonnière' tradition involving the serving of sugared almonds or small confections during afternoon tea or formal dessert courses.

Meaning Through Time

19th Century

A display of 'ancien régime' sophistication and historical appreciation through revivalist metalwork.

PRODUCTION PERIOD

The Hanau silver industry in Germany flourished between 1850 and 1920, specializing in historical revival styles including Baroque, Rococo, and Empire designs. Unlike official state silver which required strictly regulated hallmarks, Hanau makers often used 'pseudo-marks' that imitated earlier centuries to appeal to the Victorian market's desire for antiquarian aesthetics. This specific floral and foliate piercing style was popularized by firms such as J.D. Schleissner & Söhne and Georg Roth & Co.

COLLECTOR NOTES

Hanau silver makers frequently used silver with a fineness of 800 parts per 1,000, which was more durable for the intricate piercing seen here than softer 925 sterling.

The 1888 German Imperial Stamp Act eventually standardized silver marking, but many Hanau workshops continued their traditional pseudo-mark styles for export until the early 20th century.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%

CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 17 decorative items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

Standard antique shop items
Regularly available
Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

Hallmarks on the base are consistent with 19th-century German manufacturing practices
Construction techniques such as cast handles applied to a pierced body align with period standards
Wear patterns and tarnish distribution are consistent with a century of age

How does authenticity detection work?

DECORATIVE ARTS EXPERT'S TAKE

Decorative Arts Specialist

Silver & Glass Expert

The identification is based on clearly visible construction methods and hallmark placement typical of the Hanau region, though specific maker identification requires clearer mark detail.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Distinct pseudo-hallmarks on the base, one featuring a crowned shield and another with a capital 'H' or maker's device.
2Hand-chased floral detail visible on the interior rim prior to the piercing.
3Asymmetrical scrollwork characteristic of the Neo-Rococo Hanau style.
4Cast handles show file marks at the join points, indicating traditional hand-assembly.

UNCERTAINTIES

•Oxidation may hide small stress fractures in the thinnest parts of the pierced vine work.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Provide a high-magnification macro photo of the two marks on the base for specific maker attribution.
→Gently clean a small area with a non-abrasive silver cloth to check for 'EPNS' (electroplate) wear-through, though hallmarks suggest solid silver.
→Perform a weight check in grams to assess silver value vs. antique premium.

CONDITION & GRADE

Grading breakdown

Evaluation of antique silver focuses on hallmark clarity and the integrity of pierced work; this example maintains structurally sound ornamentation despite surface oxidation.

Condition

Significant sulfur-based tarnish is visible across the entire surface, particularly on the interior well. There are minor scratches on the flat base consistent with table contact, but the intricate piercing appears intact with no visible breaks in the scrollwork.

DECORATIVE ARTS VALUATION

$250 - $450

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of Continental silver and interior designers seeking authentic late-Victorian dining accessories.

What increases value

•Integrity of the pierced scrollwork
•Clarity of the maker's marks
•Grams of silver content
•Complexity of the floral chasing

What lowers value

•Breaks or solder repairs in the delicate piercing
•Aggressive over-polishing that removes the 'crispness' of the hand-chased details

What makes top-tier examples

•Identification of specific prestigious Hanau firms like Schleissner
•800 or 830 silver purity marks

Grade & condition

Condition is determined by the absence of 'bleeding' (copper showing through if plated, though likely solid here) and the crispness of the pierced edges.