WMF Jugendstil Silver Centerpiece, circa 1906

This example is especially appealing because it reflects the transition from the highly ornamental designs of the turn of the century toward the cleaner, more geometric forms that would eventually develop into Art Deco. Its design belongs to the German Jugendstil movement, which retained the flowing curves of Art Nouveau while introducing greater simplicity, structure, and functionality.

Jugendstil artists and designers sought to balance ornament with practical purpose while reconciling traditional craftsmanship with modern industrial production. That evolving design philosophy can be clearly seen in the restrained decoration, graceful silhouette, and architectural lines of this centerpiece.

The piece is stamped with the original WMF marks, shown in the final two photographs.

The firm of WMF (Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabri) produced hundreds and hundreds of household objects in a high-quality silver plate that celebrated the Art Nouveau and Jugendstil movements and promoted the fashion by selling their pieces all throughout Eastern and Western Europe as well as South America in the early part of the 20th Century.