Antique Ethos

Description

A very charming Art Nouveau pewter centrepiece bowl with cut-glass liner by Orivit c1910. Cylindrical twin-handled pewter frame raised on four spherical feet. Stylised Art Nouveau whiplash design to the pewter frame, extending to incorporate twin, everted handles. Design continues into the cut-glass liner and feet. Pewter frame has been left with its very lovely antique patina. Orivit mark and design number 2345 stamped to base. Overall maximum width across the handles is 24 cm. Maximum height is 7 cm. Glass liner is 20 cm in diameter.
This centrepiece bowl is in very good condition commensurate with age. Extremely minor signs of age to the pewter frame. Some surface scratches to the internal bowl of the glass liner. Please see further images on our website as these form an important part of the description.

Orivit was founded in 1894 as "Rheinische Broncegieserei fur Kleinplastiken"​ in Koln-Ehrenfeld, Germany. "Orivit" was initially a trade name (registered in 1898) for the company's proprietary metal alloy - its so called "orivit metal" which when polished would look like silver. This was achieved by removing lead, using a higher percentage of antimony and adding a small amount of silver. In 1900 the company changed its name to "Orivit A.G. fur Kunsthandwerkliche Metalwarenfabrikation" - opening a new factory in 1902 with a revolutionary new hydraulic press enabling them to produce more intricate designs in greater numbers. Their leading designs of the period won them recognition at the Paris (1900) and St Louis (1904) World Exhibitions. However, by 1905 the company was in financial problems and was acquired by WMF – who continued to use the Orivit mark until 1914. Orivit’s designers included Hermann Gradl (1883-1964), Georg Grasegger, Walter Scherf (1875- 1909), Vicor Heinrich Seifert, Johann Cristian Kroner (1838-1911) and Georges Charles Couldray (1862-1932).
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