+George Adam Scheid 1895 Green Enameled Guilloche Desk Box In .800 Silver
Enamelled box in silver designed by George Adam Scheid (1837-1921).
A very beautiful rectangular desk box, created in Vienna Austria by George Adam Scheid back in the late 19th century, circa 1895. This box is in mint condition, is very rare and was crafted in solid .800/.999 silver with high polished finish. The lid is embellished with a geometric radial guilloche pattern, with applications of vivid lime green hot enamel. We should made a note about the design, since is very avant garde for the period, considering this was made in the late 19th century looks like a piece from the art deco period.
Weight: 318.95 Grams, (204.46 Dwt).
Measurements: 100 mm by 89 mm by 52 mm (3.94 x 3.51 x 2.04 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with Austrian marks; two times with the maker's mark associated to George Adam Scheid, two times with the mark for the assay and warranty of the .800/.999 silver, the enameller mark T and signed, "G.A.S.".
Georg Adam Scheid was born in Schönau Baden, Württemberg on July 28 1837. He started his apprenticeship in 1853 and operated afterwards in Pforzheim and Stuttgart. In 1858 he came to Vienna and entered the workshop of the gold, silver goods producer and jeweler Michael Markowitsch. He married one of Markowitsch daughters and in 1862 the company was renamed Markowitsch & Scheid and adopted the mark M & S. It was located in Sandwirtgasse 8, and then in Gumpendorfer Straße 83. In 1882 they separated and Shied started his own flourishing operation, employing up to 300 workers. The silver decoration factory was named "G. A. Sheid" and used different marks. It was located in Gumpendorfer Straße 85. Markowitsch & Scheid was then owned by Adolf Markowitsch alone, a son of Michael Markowitsch, and kept the same mark, the company shut down in 1898. Specialities of Sheid's factory were cigarette cases, powder boxes, write sets, toilet sets as well as jewelry boxes, which were also sold in large quantities in Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, Belgium and Spain. To ensure the supply of raw materials in 1888 Scheid opened up his own refinery where, from precious metal wastes, raw material as well as semi-manufactured products, as sheet metals and wires were produced. The operation grew rapidly and covered not only his own requirement but goods were also exported abroad and with the establishment of sister operations in Budapest (1891), Prague (1920) and Bucharest (1923) Scheid took control of the market. In 1894 the sons Arthur (1870-1897) and Robert (1872-1950), as well as his nephew George (1850-1937), stepped in as partners. In 1911 George Adam Scheid withdrew from the business life and Robert and Georg Scheid took over. Robert and his younger brother Ludwig (1886-1960) then assumed the management. After the First World War, fall of the overseas market for the decoration sector and the bad economic situation led, as a consequence, to the liquidation of the decoration factory, while the "Affinerie" continued and in 1962 merged with the Ludwig Roessler GmbH to form the ÖGUSSA GmbH, which still exists today.
Note: We dated the manufacture of this rare box around the 1895, because we know the existence of an identical one but with red enamel, which is engraved with a special dedicatory dated April 4 1899, please see the illustrated figure.
Note: Guilloché is used in fine jewelry to enhance the appearance of brooches, rings and pendants. Guilloché enamel refers to metal pieces that have been given the Guilloché treatment and then covered with a translucent layer of enamel, giving the geometric patterns underneath the enamel a colorful hue.
Condition: The overall condition of this box is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the silver. The enamel parts are secured in the settings. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D040523TCEK/9.456
