A German silver-mounted ebony veneered Biedermeier sewing table the silver by Johann Heinrich Christian Schwieger, Kiel, 1826

the octagonal top raised above a frieze applied with handles on cabriole legs, joined by an oval silver-mounted stretcher, the cut-corners applied with the crest of a lion rampant below coronet for the family von Reventlow, drop handles headed by lion’s heads at the sides, the front drawer with compartments and silver border, the four legs mounted by claw and wheel supports, the oblong casket applied with similar decoration on four claw supports, containing a desk set and various sewing implements, the reverse of the casket applied with four plaques and the following inscriptions; OR October 1826; MR 1865; MR 1903; VR 1951; fully marked, the implements in the casket  also struck with 14 lot, the applied ornaments on the table below Dutch legal alloy (45 )

Christian Wilhelm Heinrich zu Rantzau (b. 23 September 1796, Ascheberg, d. 18 May 1848 Seeberg, Kiel) married Ottilie Agathe Louise Sophie von Reventlow (b.28 October 1800 Kaltenhof. d. 30 Dec 1883, Seeberg, Kiel)) on 19 February 1825 in Åkjær;
Thence by descent to Heinrich Adalbert zu Rantzau (b. 27 October 1834 in Hohenhain., d. 11 July 1891, Wilhelmshohe, Cassel)  who married Marie Elisabeth Anna von Hoepfner (b. 25 August 1846, Koblenz, d. 3 June 1925, Preetz) on 20 September 1865 Berlin;
Thence by descent to Christian Otto Edmund zu Rantzau (b. 23 June 1875, Potsdam., d. 31 March 1953 Goslar) who married Maria Sophie Johanne Emilie von Cretius on 25 September 1903 (b. 13 February 1883, Berlin. d 14 September 1948) in Potsdam;
Thence by descent to Cai Heinrich Richard Carl zu Rantzau (b. 10 April 1909, Potsdam, d. 21 April 1976, Marl) who married 1. Olga-Mascha Schoen von Wildenegg (b. 17 May 1920, Leipzig, d. 20 January 1979, Munich) on 27 February 1943 in Leipzig and II. Viktoria Gertrud Sudau (b. 2 May 1915 Graudenz) on 27 March 1951;
Thence by descent to Olga-Mascha zu Rantzau, born 25 December 1943, Murnau, OberBayern, the daughter of Cai Heinrich Richard Carl Zu Rantzau and his first wife.

Die Gold und Silberschmiede im östlichen Schleswig-Holstein, Bernt Zeitzschel, Wachholtz Verlag, 1998, p.169. 

Johann Heinrich Christian Schwieger (1784-1841) was a goldsmith in Kiel, the capital of Schleswig- Holstein, Germany. In 1803, at the age of nineteen years old he was trained by Johann Friedrich Rachau in his Kiel workshop. He became a citizen of Kiel in 1815, the year that he married Dorothea Ledig, his first wife. The couple had a son, Johann Heinrich, who also became a goldsmith in Kiel. In 1821, Johann Heinrich Christian Schwieger is recorded as assay master of the guild for the first time.

From 1773 to 1863, Kiel belonged to the King of Denmark. Both Kiel and Flensburg had a guild, whereas other minor towns in Schleswig-Holstein did not. Bernt Zeitzschel in his book Die Gold- und Silberschmiede im östlichen Schleswig-Holstein, listed circa 10 items by this master, stating that the hallmarking was executed in Danish style, struck with the year and signs of the zodiac. For instance, three forks, dated 27 and Scorpio; a spoon, dated 25 and Scorpio. Furthermore a small paten, a so-called Klingelbeutel, intended for collecting money during mass in the Nicolaikirche, a strainer, dated 29 and possibly struck with Aries, another spoon and two jugs are known by this master.

It is recorded that Carl Christian August Pfeiffer worked as a pupil in his workshop in 1828. In 1831, after the death of his first wife, Schwieger married her sister Anna Amalia Henrietta Ledig. After his death at the age of almost 57, Schwieger was laid to rest in the Church of St. Nicholas in Kiel.

This teak sewing table with ebony veneer is a fine example of the Biedemier style of North Germany in this period. The applied armorial of the crowned lion for the Von Reventlow family can probably be dated back to the 12th century. The table was probably first given as a wedding gift to Ottilie Agathe Louise Sophie von Reventlow and Christian Wilhelm Heinrich zu Rantzau who married on 19th February 1825. Although the silver plaque applied underneath the casket records October 1826, with Ottilie's initials, OR. It was thereafter presented as a wedding gift, recording the wedding date and bride's initials, until being offered for sale today.

Provenance: Christian Wilhelm Heinrich zu Rantzau (b. 23 September 1796, Ascheberg, d. 18 May 1848 Seeberg, Kiel) married Ottilie Agathe Louise Sophie von Reventlow (b.28 October 1800 Kaltenhof. d. 30 Dec 1883, Seeberg, Kiel)) on 19 February 1825 in Åkjær; Thence by descent to Heinrich Adalbert zu Rantzau (b. 27 October 1834 in Hohenhain., d. 11 July 1891, Wilhelmshohe, Cassel)  who married Marie Elisabeth Anna von Hoepfner (b. 25 August 1846, Koblenz, d. 3 June 1925, Preetz) on 20 September 1865 Berlin; Thence by descent to Christian Otto Edmund zu Rantzau (b. 23 June 1875, Potsdam., d. 31 March 1953 Goslar) who married Maria Sophie Johanne Emilie von Cretius on 25 September 1903 (b. 13 February 1883, Berlin. d 14 September 1948) in Potsdam;Thence by descent to Cai Heinrich Richard Carl zu Rantzau (b. 10 April 1909, Potsdam, d. 21 April 1976, Marl) who married 1. Olga-Mascha Schoen von Wildenegg (b. 17 May 1920, Leipzig, d. 20 January 1979, Munich) on 27 February 1943 in Leipzig and II. Viktoria Gertrud Sudau (b. 2 May 1915 Graudenz) on 27 March 1951;Thence by descent to Olga-Mascha zu Rantzau, born 25 December 1943, Murnau, OberBayern, the daughter of Cai Heinrich Richard Carl Zu Rantzau and his first wife.

Literature: Die Gold und Silberschmiede im östlichen Schleswig-Holstein, Bernt Zeitzschel, Wachholtz Verlag, 1998, p.169.