Collection Wolfers & Petrucci: Hidden Treasures

Unknown master, Nuremberg
The Levi Family brandy bowl, mid-17 th century
Silver, partially gilt
Dimensions: 3,5 × 11,3 × 13 cm
Marked: next to one of the handles with the city mark of Nuremberg (Germany) and maker’s mark “a loop in the
form of an eight with trefoils on both ends”, used between 1645–1651, which could be attributed to the master
August Döring.
Provenance:
Sophie Mayer, New Zealand (descendant of Philipp Wolff (Wolfers) and Johanna Levy)
Marcel Wolfers and Clairette Petrucci collection (gifted by the above)
The engraved brandy bowl with the names “Levi Joel / Salman Levi” remains
an object that is difficult to place within the Wolfers family history. By repute it
comes from the family of Johanna Levy (1788–1869), the second wife of Philipp
Wolff (Wolfers) and mother of Louis Wolfers. Further genealogical research
is needed to establish the link between the bowl and the Wolfers-Levi family.
Although Louis Wolfers, son of Philipp Wolff and Johanna Levy, was the father
of Philippe and grandfather of Marcel Wolfers, the bowl seems to have belonged
to a descendant of one of his siblings. It is only later that the piece was presented
by a Ms. Mayer to Marcel Wolfers, as having belonged to the parents of Johanna
Levy. Subsequently, Marcel Wolfers has kept the piece with the Wolfers family
heirlooms.
For the maker’s mark and the possible attribution to Döring, see Karin Tebbe,
et al., Nürnberger Goldschmiedekunst. 1541–1868, Band I : Meister, Werke,
Marken, Teil 1 : Textband, Nürnberg, 2007, p. 485, No. 1074. A similar brandy bowl
of the same maker is pictured on p. 958, photo 657 (Teil 2 : Tafeln). My thanks go
to Dr. Wim Nys for the identification of this piece.
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