Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

posted 11-17-2002 10:00 PM            

---

We found this very nice enameled bowl. It is about 3 inches high and 4 inches in diameter.
The pedestal is enameled both on the inside and out. The pedestal detaches probably for easy cleaning. The maker's mark looks as if it is JMK. We have not done any research yet - does anyone know who the maker is?

IP: Logged

Posts: 1326
Registered: Apr 93

posted 10-16-2004 11:35 PM            

---

We just saw two fabulous pieces of enameled jewelry bearing the same maker’s mark. The person who had the pieces also had several reference books with photos of pieces of a very similar design (unfortunately without the mark documented) attributed to a woman silversmith named Mary Kretsinger. The similarities of design and workmanship and identical mark on the jewelry and bowl do lead us to believe that this may be the maker of this bowl.

Mary Krestsinger was born in 1915 in Kansas and was an instructor at Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas. She obtained an MA from the State University of Iowa in 1941. She studied with Rudolph Brum, Adda Husted-Andersen and Hans Christensen. Her work was included in the 1955 Walker Exhibit.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1792
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 10-19-2004 04:30 PM            

---

Scott and June, thanks for sharing this lovely silver bowl. It looks like a very well made piece (I like that even the washer was thoughtfully constructed). Is there any way to get a photo of the similar jewelry?

IP: Logged

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

posted 10-20-2004 09:08 AM            

---

I will ask.

IP: Logged

Posts: 63
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 10-23-2004 04:09 PM            

---

Here's an article on the 1955 Walker Exhibit, and toward the bottom, there is a blurb plus a photo of a silver pin by Mary Krestsinger: (click here).

The blurb reads:
Mary Kretsinger was Instructor in jewelry, Ceramics, Design, Art Exploration, and Weaving at Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas. She attended Kansas University and received her M.A. at State University of Iowa in 1941. She worked mainly in silver and brass combined with enamel. She liked using enamels in small areas so that their "preciousness" was not lost.

IP: Logged

Posts: 11520
Registered: Apr 93

posted 12-05-2004 12:59 AM            

---

We finally re-connected with the owner of the jewelry.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1792
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 12-08-2004 11:46 AM            

---

Scott, thanks for the pictures of the pins. Kretsinger's enamel style is really wonderful; it looks like many small jewels.

What I also find interesting is the different types of pins she uses on each piece. The first pin uses pin findings typical for jewelry this age. On the other hand, the turtle pin uses a pin hinge known as a "tube hinge," and this was basically out of date by the 1910s or 20s, especially in America. The pin catch on the turtle, known as a "trombone catch," seems to be found mostly on European jewelry, and usually pre-1940 examples. Perhaps Kretsinger used parts of old, broken jewelry so they would not go to waste.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1070
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-08-2004 02:01 PM            

---

I suspect Krestsinger made the catches for most of her pins except for the commercial pin. I have taken workshops and made trombone catches from scratch. Many craftsmen and women fabricate their own findings. I resist the use of standard commercial findings. I am currently designing and making pins that use a stainless pin wedged into a thick walled tube. the catch is integrall to the design of the pin.

Fred

IP: Logged

All times are ET