Openwork Charger, Bros. Henneberg, circa 1870

Oval, openwork charger with two handles on four decorative feet.

Silver plate, signed "B.Henneberg".

Width 30 cm.

This company was founded in 1856 by Juliusz Henneberg (1835-1907), former turner from Fraget factory, and bronzesmith Michal Czajkowski, under the name Henneberg & Czajkowski. In 1870, the brother of Juliusz, Wilhelm, joins the company and it changes its name to Brothers Henneberg & Czajkowki (Bracia Henneberg i Czajkowski in Polish). Finally, in 1874 Michal Czajkowski leaves the business, and since then the firm was called Bros. Henneberg (Bracia Henneberg in Polish, or, shortly, Br. Henneberg or even B. Henneberg). The number of workers grew rapidly: from 90 in 1872 to 150 in 1884. In 1887, Wilhelm Henneberg retires, however, soon the sons of Juliusz, Julian and Stanislaw, join the foundry and the company survives under the old name. After the death of Juliusz Henneberg, his son Julian guides the business. In 1904 the number of employees reached 320. Bros. Henneberg became the third Warsaw silver plate enterprise, after Fraget and Norblin. However, the production decreased significantly after 1914 due to World War I and following global financial crisis (in 1929). In 1939, with the occupation of Poland by the Nazis, the firm Br.Henneberg stopped its production. After World War II, in 1945, the factory was reopened, but then nationalized. Finally, in 1965, the firm Bros. Henneberg was merged with another Warsaw silver plate foundry, Fraget, to form a new state company "HEFRA".