Wmf Art Nouveau Twin Handled Centrepiece with Glass Liner C.1890

Beautiful Wmf Art Nouveau centrepiece bowl finished in antique silver. Shaped emerald green glass liner within a pierced, twin handled frame with sinuous vine leaf design around its Body. Wmf mark used circa 1885-1895. Stamped 'Wmf Ep Ox' signifying that it was electroplated in silver and that the silver plate was 'oxidised' to give it a darker, antique silver patina. Its finish has been left unpolished and thus has retained its beautifully aged Patina. Wmf (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik) traces its origins back to 1853 when the Straub & Schweizer metal works in Geislingen, Germany was established. They merged with Ritter & Co in 1880 – but after financial problems, joined with the Wurttemberg Union Bank to form “Wmf”. From its founding as one company, Wmf'S growth was tremendous - acquiring more factories along the way, notably including "Orivit Ag" and "Orion Km". By the end of the 1900's, they were the world's largest producer and exporter of household metalware.