1860-1896 RUSSIA POLAND METAL JEWELRY BOX TREASURE CHEST - FRAGET W. WARSZAWIE

FRAGET W WARSZAWA. Antique Silver Plated Sugar Bowl ???

Russia/Poland 1860-1896

Size: 5 in x 4.33 in x 4 in (12.5 cm x 11 cm x 10 cm)

Material: Brass

This Fraget mark refers to galvanic-based silver deposition. It has the inscription in Polish "FRAGET W WARSZAWIE ("FRAGET IN WARSAW") inside the oval. The size of the oval varies between 7.5 mm x 9.9 mm and 8.0 mm x 10.4 mm. The rhombus (or the small oval) with "N" letter means "normal thickness of silver deposited onto the surface of the base metal usually on brass)". The inscription "GALW" in a cartouche is the shortening of Polish word "GALWANIZACJA" ("GALVANIZATION"), explaining the method of silver deposition. Note the colon at the end of the inscription "GALW". Inside the small oval is the coat of arms of the coppersmiths' and bronze-smiths' corporation (two crossed hammers with a pair of compasses). Sometimes this sign is given twice. 

Józef Fraget was founded in 1824 by two French businessmen, the brothers Alphonse (in Polish Alfons) and Joseph (in Polish Józef, 1797-1867) Fraget. Around 1845 Alphonse Fraget left the business and returned to France while Joseph became the sole owner of the firm, which survived until 1939 under the name Józef Fraget (in Polish), or Józef Fraget in Cyrillic characters (in Russian). In 1836 Joseph married the daughter of the Berlin jeweller Amalia Steffen (1805-1868). In 1847 he was travelling throughout Europe and studying the newest technology of galvanic silver deposition on copper and brass used by Christofle & Co. in Paris, France. After his return to Warsaw, in 1849 he totally refurbished the factory, adding a smelting department for the preparation of Neusilber (Alpaca) alloy and a laboratory for galvanic studies. Somewhat later, in 1857, he purchased in Austria-Hungary a unique machine for the mass production of Neusilber-based cutlery, 150 dozens per day. The number of workers employed by the factory quickly grew from 150 in 1847 to 240 in 1859 and 400 in 1900. Soon the inexpensive silver plate production of his company became so popular in Russian Empire that all the silver-plated items were named simply by "fraget".

In 1867 Józef Fraget died and his son Julian Fraget (1841-1906) became the manager of the company. In 1868 Julian married a Polish girl of French origin, Antonina de Sauve (1850-1925). In 1896 the firm Józef Fraget participated in the All-Russia Trade Fair in Nizhnii Novgorod and deservedly was honoured by the right of using the image of the Russian State Coat of Arms (two-headed eagle) on its products. In 1897 the firm was transformed into a joint-stock company "Fabryka Wyrobów Platerowanych Józef Fraget", which in translation means "Silver Plate Factory Józef Fraget". After the tragic death of Julian Fraget in 1906, the guidance of the company was taken by his daughter, countess Maria Swiatopelk-Mirska (1841-1938).

After the death of Maria, her son Józef Swiatopelk-Mirski became the last manager of the firm. In 1939 with the occupation of Poland by the Nazis, the firm Fraget stopped its production. After World War II, in 1945, the factory was reopened, but then nationalized. Finally, in 1965 Fraget was merged with another Warsaw silver plate foundry, Brothers Henneberg, to form a new state company "HEFRA".

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 _gsrx_vers_1730 (GS 9.9.4 (1730))

 _gsrx_vers_1730 (GS 9.9.4 (1730))

Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.