if i were to come across a piece of copper with the initials WMF, what would that stand for? i know i know this but i cant retrieve it....definite sign of old age.

Hello Don,

Here's the link to the Old copper marks page with info. & marks for WMF.


http://www.oldcopper.org/wmf.htm

Mark

Here is wonderful WFM vase on sale now at E-bay. It is hand hammered copper vase with elaborate brass handles and measures over 16 inches high. This vase also has the shop mark on the bottom. It is a bit scratched up but readable.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&ss...0120653739&rd=1&rd=1

The vase reminds me of some of the Roycroft Secessionists examples from 1910-1015. The use of squares and rectangles and the angular feel of all of these pieces point to a shared lineage. Off the top of my head, I would say the Glasgow School(four artists: Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Margaret Mcdonald, James Herbert McNair and Frances Macdonald) was an obvious influence on the German vase--it just looks a lot like their work. Their style has a subtle, quieter influence on Roycroft'e elegant vases. On the other side of the coin, I would say that this WMF vase makes a bolder statement by taking a big gamble and succeeding.

The WMF's intricate use of negative space (metal gone--the long rectangle cut out of the handles))and positve space(the graceful outline of the vase against the background) are similar in some of Roycroft's work. But, none of it is an exact copy. Both shops use arms or handles to add architectural interest to their pieces. This WMF vase reminds me of Roycroft's Egyptian Flower Holder series. Granted the arms are very different but the idea of having them start from the base and flare toward the top in used by both shops. They make good use of all that all that "air" or positive space between the handles and the body of the vase.

Bev.

Here is a picture of the shop mark (logo) with the letter "K". I don't know what the "K" means.


Bev.