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Stephan mark??

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Author	Topic: Stephan mark??
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 06-26-2001 11:20 AM Does anyone know anything about *Stephan* or this mark? IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 07-03-2001 06:33 PM Unfortunately, it is new to me as well. It looks like a nightstick or billy club above the name; I would wager that the maker's name has something to so with this implement. Maybe Billy Stephan? IP: Logged
FredZ Posts: 1070 Registered: Jun 99	posted 07-09-2001 03:53 PM Sorry for waiting so long to respond to this.... I an told that the mark may be by an Ohio woman silversmith by the name of Wilemina Stephan. A member of the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts.... I too noticed the billy club but did not relate it to Bill of William or as it seems Wilemina. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 07-10-2001 12:04 PM Fred, Thanks for the suggestions. Based on your input, we sent a message to the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts. In our message to the BSAC we included a link to this post as well as a copy of the photo/marks. This was their reply: quote: Unfortunately we do not have historic records to help you with your research. Good luck. Beth Ann Gerstein The search continues ..... IP: Logged
FredZ Posts: 1070 Registered: Jun 99	posted 07-12-2001 10:09 AM Here is the research I have found on Wilhemina Stephan. She studied at the Cleavland School of Art. No dates. Studied with English enamelist Alexander Fisher and Chicago jeweler James H. Winn. She collaborated with Horace Potter in an exibit of 7 silver spoons with enamel decoration at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1905 & 1906. She became a Craftsman with the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts in 1907 and exhibited in one of their shows there. This information has been gleaned from The Boston Society of Arts and Crafts Records and the Catalogue "Art that Is Life" It will be interesting to see if we see any of the Stephan marked pieces that may help us attribute them to this craftswoman. IP: Logged
FredZ Posts: 1070 Registered: Jun 99	posted 07-12-2001 10:24 AM This is to clarify the spelling of this craftswoman. Wilhelmina P. Stephan. metalworker & jeweler (Craftsman Status: 1907-13 with Boston Society of Arts & Crafts); Exibited in the 1907 show; She lived in Cleavland, Ohio. IP: Logged
FredZ Posts: 1070 Registered: Jun 99	posted 12-13-2002 08:41 AM Scott, I found an eBay listing for a set of spoons that collaborates the Wilhelmina Stephan and Horrace Potter association. I belive we can safely attribute this mark to that of Wilhelmina "Billy" Stephan. The same dealer has set of butter spreaders with the same marks. quote: Potter Studio /Stephan Arts & Crafts Spoons Item # 929371733 6 (six) sterling hand wrought teaspoons made by both Potter Studio and "Billy" Stephan of Cleveland, Ohio. The close association between Horace Potter and Wilhemenia "Billy" Stephan is seen in this group of spoons - all identical but 4 are made by Potter and 2 by Stephan. 6 1/4" long. Her mark is "STEPHAN with a billy club above name". IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 12-13-2002 10:40 AM Thanks Fred!! It is great to see this thread progress. I wonder if there is more about this to be discovered? Here are the marks from the butters: IP: Logged
bascall Posts: 1629 Registered: Nov 99	posted 07-04-2010 06:30 AM Some basic information about this woman: Wilhelmina Puls Stephan was the daughter of Cleveland, Ohio dentist John Stephen and was born August 27, 1879 in Cleveland, Ohio Census information: 1900 art school student in Cleveland, Ohio 1910 teaching arts and crafts in Cleveland, Ohio 1920 arts and crafts on own account in Cleveland, Ohio 1930 living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, an independent artist and never married IP: Logged
chicagosilver Posts: 227 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 07-12-2010 07:59 PM Wilhelmina Stephan was also an accomplished jeweler. Here's a pretty gold bracelet of hers with diamonds and opals: IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 07-12-2010 08:03 PM Very nice looking bracelet, I haven't seen this before. Thank you. IP: Logged
chicagosilver Posts: 227 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 07-12-2010 08:09 PM According to Kaplan's "The Art that is Life" (p 158): "Potter and Stephan had seven silver spoons with enameled handles among their large showing at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1905.... When the two showed at the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts' historic decennial exhibition in 1907, their work included silver spoons that were pierced, carved, and adorned with enameled floral motifs..." Here are two fine H. E. Potter enamel serving spoons that may have been two of the objects Kaplan referred to: IP: Logged
vathek Posts: 966 Registered: Jun 99	posted 07-13-2010 08:21 AM The enameled spoons and gold bracelet are very nice, but I wonder about the use of the billy club in her logo. How does that fit? IP: Logged
agphile Posts: 798 Registered: Apr 2008	posted 07-13-2010 12:18 PM Wilhelmina, female version of Wilhelm/William,= Billy as a familiar or abbreviated version of the name. IP: Logged
bascall Posts: 1629 Registered: Nov 99	posted 11-14-2010 09:07 PM One of several google links to Wilhelmina P Stephan AIC1906ArtsCraft5thAn_com.pdf [This message has been edited by Scott Martin (edited 08-07-2022).] IP: Logged
ahwt Posts: 2334 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 08-07-2022 08:42 PM This is an old Billy Club that Wilhelmina (Billly) may have had in mind. This one it typical as it has a lead plug in the end opposite the handle. This is from Google; Wilhelmina (also: Wilhelmena, Wilhelmine, Wilhemina) is a feminine given name, the Dutch and German form of Wilhelm or William, which is derived from the Germanic wil, meaning "will, desire" and helm, meaning "helmet, protection". IP: Logged

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