Wiskemann - Jardinière - Silverplated - Centerpiece

Beautiful jardinière, a piece used to arrange a floral display, made of silver-plated metal. Crafted by the exclusive Belgian silversmith Wiskemann, in Louis XV style. A jardinière is used as a table centerpiece. Marked at the bottom with Wiskemann's stamp.

Such jardinières have been a staple of formal table and interior culture since the late 19th century. They were often presented in pairs, symmetrically placed on either side of a larger centerpiece, candelabrum, or bowl. Their role was both aesthetic and practical: they provided space for flower arrangements or greenery, while their glossy surface reflected candlelight and subtly enhanced the table with a touch of luxury.

In good condition with normal signs of use. Approximately 30x17cm.

Wiskemann is the most exclusive Belgian manufacturer of silver-plated objects. Otto-Leonard Wiskemann came from an aristocratic German family of goldsmiths and jewelers. At the beginning of his career, he apprenticed at Christofle. After this apprenticeship, he was even able to improve upon Christofle's process, and in 1872, he established himself in Brussels. During that period, Wiskemann represented the highest quality of silver-plated white metal available worldwide. All pieces were handcrafted in the ateliers in Brussels (Belgium) and Zurich (Switzerland). (You can find an excerpt from the 1908 catalog among the photos showing the ateliers.) Wiskemann sold, alongside Galleries Innovation—the then Belgian equivalent of Harrods or Lafayette—also in their own shop on Avenue Louise and in their own store in Zurich. Wiskemann received significant international recognition, including the Silver Medal in 1885 at the international competition in Antwerp, the Diploma of Honor in Brussels (1897), and twice the Grand Prix in its category, in Liège in 1905 and Milan in 1906. In the culinary world and at culinary competitions, Wiskemann already reached the top of the world with gold medals and honorary diplomas in 1888, 1889, 1899, 1900, 1904, and 1905. The extensive list up to 1908 can be found among the photos. The company was later continued by Otto and Albin Wiskemann, and subsequently by Bruno Wiskemann. The Wolfers family (known for Philippe Wolfers and the Wolfers Frères—royal suppliers to the Belgian royal family) bought a majority stake in the company during that period. Later, the companies of the Delheid family were also added to this group. This is a piece of Belgian history and of outstanding quality: comparable to Christofle, Robbe & Berking, Ercuis, Puiforcat, Wilkens, Ercuis, etc.

Insured and careful shipping in appropriate (possibly double) packaging. DPD for destinations within the European Union, national post (Bpost) for other destinations. Shipping costs apply to the mainland; for overseas areas and islands, a surcharge may be required unless the destination is separately listed in the shipping costs. A surcharge for customs formalities is included in the displayed shipping costs. The buyer is responsible for any import taxes.