Topic: ID and Repair for Focke & Meltzer Amsterdam Ashtray

[vfloro]

I found this piece at a second hand store. When I got it home, the corner broke off and I noticed that it had been previously broken and glued together with an adhesive of some sort.  I don't know if this ashtray has (had) much value, but I think it's beautiful and would like to have it repaired properly regardless of its worth; however, I need some guidance. I don't know whether I could just buy an over-the-counter compound or if I should bring it to a professional. I would love it if there was a way to remove the old adhesive, which was sloppy when applied.

It has a gold Focke & Meltzer Amsterdam sticker on the back; the word "Delft"; some symbols I don't comprehend; and the number "970."

I had posted in this on a different message board and was advised that the ashtray was possibly made by De Porceleyne Fles in Delft, and that
the letters BX are most likely the initials of the decorator, with 970 indicating the no. of the particular model.

Any further guidance/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Anne]

Hi and welcome to the board, I am glad you took up my suggestion of posting this here for us to look at.     I have a love of, though no great knowledge of blue and white ware, so it's always nice to see a new example.

You might know that Focke & Meltzer were importers and retailers of glass and pottery from various places. They have an entry on the Dutch version of Wikipedia, which I have run through Google translate as I don't read Dutch. This is what it roughly says...

Focke and Meltzer was a shop in glass and crockery. The headquarters was at Herengracht 93 in Amsterdam.

The company was founded in 1823 by Sebastian Meltzer, French Focke, and Anton Eberhart, all from Bohemia. It was a grinding mill and crystal warehouse with an office in the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam. Mr sold mainly glass and crockery, agate and serpentine. Among their clients were among noble families such as Trip, Bosch van Drakenstein, Van Eeghen, Van Limburg Stirum, Wickevoort Crommelin and Van Vollenhoven.

In 1865 the company was Ignatz Theodor and Julius Meltzer, three sons Sebastian. They imported glass from Bohemia, where Metzer family had a glass factory. Final 1865 Julius left the firm.

In 1883 the World was in Amsterdam. There were some novelties such as electric lighting and a separate press room equipped with glassware Focke and Meltzer and cigars Hajenius.

In 1885 the company carried the name Focke and Meltzer. The turnover came at that time from household glassware and crockery as well as from pharmaceutical chemical glassware. Especially the latter was special. During the relocation of the town of Gouda pharmacy from the Catharina hospital is a price list from 1853 matching images. This price list had 38 pages and was published by Focke & Meltzer.

In 1885, the company informed by H. P. Berlage and Th. Sanders build a new store in the Kalverstraat corner Spui.

In 1903 the company was converted into a corporation. In 1919 opened the shop in the High Street in The Hague. After this period of glory, the Second World War. Hardly anyone bought more glass or porcelain. Hans Meltzer imported in 1948, the first Royal Copenhagen, which the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the company was a great success and turnover was above a million.

In 1958, the case in the Kalverstraat was renovated and refurbished. Mayor Gijs van Hall made the reopening [1]. From 1988-1996 of Wielik had its own department at Focke & Meltzer in the High Street in anticipation of their own property.

Focke and Meltzer has remained a family business. Since late 1886, at the time of Queen Emma, ​​the company was allowed to carry the title Purveyor.

With some regularity were held in stores exhibitions of artists such as Johan van Loon in 1978.

Now to the piece itself... the Royal Delpht website gives the information that

Since 1879, each hand painted article produced by De Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles has been marked according to the following principle:

 - A jar
 - The Initials JT
 - The City of Delft

which matches your piece nicely.

Also according to the Royal Delft website, the letters BX are the year code for 1953 - you can download a copy of the PDF file containing the codes from here: http://www.royaldelft.com/webdocs/pdf_website/year%20codes.pdf and that containing the backstamps (trademarks) from here: http://www.royaldelft.com/webdocs/pdf_website/trademarks.pdf

The other monogram on the left is the decorator's mark, whilst the number 970 is an internal code (presumably a pattern number or suchlike).

As to how to repair it...
Usually it depends on a couple of factors... how valuable the piece is and how much you want to spend fixing it.  The Delft ashtrays I have seen on sale mainly slot in the £20-£30 range but I have seen some on sale for a lot less.

If it was mine I would try and clean off the old glue carefully and use one of the proprietary two part ceramic adhesives to fix it. I've used Araldite Rapid Ceramic and Glass adhesive with success on my own pieces, but it depends how you feel about doing it yourself.  Depending on what the original glue was it may come off by soaking in hot water to soften it and then be able to gently lift it away with the tip of a spatula or similar. This website gives some useful guidance on how to go about removing old glue: http://www.lakesidepottery.com/Pages/Pottery-tips/How-to-remove-epoxy-glue-cement-from-ceramic.htm.

If you feel outfaced by the prospect then that website also offers to undertake repairs, so you could request a quote from them.

Good luck whichever way you decide to tackle it, and please do show us the results. 

[vfloro]

Thank you so much Anne! This information is wonderful - I'll get started, and I'll definitely post the results! xo