The fine brass, copper and silver metalware produced by distinguished manufacturer Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF) has adorned the tabletops of restaurants, hotels and homes around the world. WMF is especially prized by collectors for its Art Nouveau works of the late 19th century and Art Deco pieces manufactured throughout the early 20th century.
WMF traces its beginnings to 1880 when the merger of Straub & Sohn and Ritter & Co. formed the public limited company Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik. The company initially focused on tableware and decorative pieces, such as vases and planters. In 1892, WMF introduced its patented “perfect hard silver plating,” a technology that distributes twice as much silver to the sections of cutlery that experience the most wear, allowing the whole piece to hold its luster longer than other silver-plated products.
In 1905, WMF acquired a majority holding of Orivit AG, a company in Cologne that manufactured products from a tin alloy, further expanding its range of materials. By 1910, its main facility in Geislingen, Germany, employed 4,000 workers. It had branches in Vienna, Warsaw and London, and printed a catalog in 12 languages.
As a German business, WMF experienced extensive asset loss in the aftermath of the world wars. However, by 1950, its main facility once again had a workforce of more than 3,000 employees, and its high-quality products returned to popularity. There was an increase in demand for its Cromargan cutlery as well as work by WMF’s preeminent lighting designer, Wilhelm Wagenfeld.
By the 1960s, WMF’s main facility had 5,800 employees. More factories were opened to keep up with demand. WMF is now one of the largest manufacturers of metalware in the world and continues to produce pieces of superb quality. The company has over 200 branches in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and owns branches in 40 other countries.
On 1stDibs, explore serveware, decorative objects, lighting and more from Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF).
Sculptural Art Nouveau Jardinière With Butterflies And Tendrils, WMF, Germany
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Elaborately designed vessel in an oval base shape standing on four cantilevered feet, openwork wall with symmetrically laid ribbons, bows and tendrils with berries, playing around tw...
Metal, Silver Plate
Art Nouveau Jardinière With Floral Openwork Decoration, WMF Germany, Ca 1900
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Diamond-shaped silver-plated vessel standing on four cantilevered feet, slightly flared body with openwork ivy leaf decoration playing around the heart-shaped cartouches set centrall...
Metal, Silver Plate
Pair of W.M.F. Silver Plate Flower Vases with Glass, Jugendstil Period
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of W.M.F. silver plate flower vases with glass, Jugendstil Period, circa 1900.
Silver Plate
WMF Art Nouveau Flower Fruit Centrepiece, circa 1910
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Toronto, Ontario
WMF centrepiece with Art Nouveau floral decoration and the original clear glass liner and silver plate. The Dish on acanthus foliate supports, curvilin...
Silver Plate
W.M.F. Silver Plate Jardinière with Glass, Art Deco Period, Germany, circa 1920
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
W.M.F. Silver plate jardinière with glass, Art Deco period, Germany, circa 1920.
Silver Plate
Rare Hand-Hammered Brass & Bronze Arts & Crafts Jardiniere or Wine Cooler by WMF
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful quality and stylish antique jardiniere. This rare and marvelous design Arts & Crafts jardinière is beautifully decorated with organic yet symmetrical Jugendstil motifs. In...
Brass, Bronze
Art Nouveau Copper Sea Horse Planter by WMF
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Oxidized copper planter by WMF. Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, full insurance coverage, and reliable handling. While standard parcel ...
Copper
Pair of W.M.F. Silver Plate Jardinière, Jugendstil Period, circa 1900
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of W.M.F. silver plate jardinière, Jugendstil period, circa 1900.
Silver Plate
W.M.F. Silver Plate Jardinière with Mirror Plateau, Jugendstil Period
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
W.M.F. Silver Plate jardinière with mirror plateau, Jugendstil period, circa 1900. With gondolier. Mirror plateau dimensions: 4 cm height, 60...
Silver Plate
Large Art Nouveau Vase With Plasitc Figure & Original Glass, WMF Germany Ca 1910
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Exceptional, beautifully designed Art Nouveau object: Elaborately designed silver-plated mount in the form of artistically intertwined tendrils, forming four small feet near the base...
Metal, Silver Plate
Pair of W.M.F. Silver Plate Jardinière, Jugendstil Style, Germany, circa 1900
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of W.M.F. silver plate jardinière with glass. Jugendstil style. Germany, circa 1900.
Silver Plate
Set of Two W.M.F. Silver Plate Flower Vases and Jardinière, Jugendstil Period
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Set of two W.M.F. silver plate flower vases and jardinière, Jugendstil period, Germany, circa 1900. Dimensions of the jardinière: Height 19 c...
Silver Plate
Pair of W.M.F. Silver Plate Jardinière, Jugendstil Period, circa 1900
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of W.M.F. silver plate jardinière with glass, Jugendstil period, circa 1900.
Silver Plate
Pair of W.M.F. Silver Plate Jardiniere with Mirror Plateau, Jugendstil Style
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of W.M.F. silver plate jardiniere with mirror plateau. Jugendstil style, Germany, circa 1900.
Silver Plate
Pair of W.M.F. silver plate jardinière with glass. Germany, circa 1900.
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of W.M.F. silver plate jardinière with glass. Germany, circa 1900.
Silver Plate
Pair of W.M.F. Silver Plate and Gilt Bronze Jardinière, Jugendstil Period
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of W.M.F. Silver plate and gilt bronze jardinière, Jugendstil period. Germany, circa 1900.
Silver Plate, Bronze
Art Nouveau Jardinière With Floral Openwork Decoration, WMF Germany, Ca 1910
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Round silver-plated vessel on a flat stand, slightly outward-curving wall with openwork ivy leaf decoration, raised and curled tendrils on the sides, filled with ivy, forming the han...
Metal, Silver Plate
Set of Two W.M.F. Silver Plate Flower Vases and Jardinière, Jugendstil Period
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Set of two W.M.F. silver plate flower vases and jardinière. Jugendstil period, Germany, circa 1900. Jardinière dimensions: 16 cm height, 46 cm...
Silver Plate
Set of Two W.M.F. Silver Plate Flower Vases and Jardinière, Jugendstil Period
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Set of two W.M.F. silver plate flower vases and jardinière with glass, Jugendstil period, Germany, circa 1900. W.M.F. silver plate flower vas...
Silver Plate
Pair of W.M.F. Silver Plate Jardinière, Jugendstil Period, circa 1900
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of W.M.F. silver plate jardinière with glass, Jugendstil period, circa 1900.
Silver Plate
H 10.24 in Dm 3.15 in
Jugendstil Baccarat Antique Art Glass Dandelion Vase, France
By Baccarat
Located in Rijssen, NL
Luxury at its finest, high-end glass dandelion vase for Baccarat, France. The vase - made out of art glass - is made from a clear glass, with yellow dandelions and green leafs on it...
Art Glass
H 10.24 in Dm 3.15 in
Jugendstil Baccarat Antique Art Glass Dandelion Vase, France
By Baccarat
Located in Rijssen, NL
Luxury at its finest, high-end glass dandelion vase for Baccarat, France. The vase - made out of art glass - is made from a clear glass, with yellow dandelions and green leafs on it...
Art Glass
H 10.75 in W 46.5 in D 42.75 in
Indian Hammered Brass Urli Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
This shallow brass bowl is a monumental version of the Indian open fire cooking vessel known as urli or uruli. Traditionally, these wide metal basins were used for preparing ayurvedi...
Brass
H 2.76 in W 11.82 in D 7.49 in
WMF Art Nouveau Plate
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
WMF Art Nouveau plate silver plated brass Germany about 1900-1910
Silver Plate, Brass
H 10.63 in Dm 5.91 in
Rare Pair of ART NOUVEAU Vases by WMF, Circa 1900
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in TEYJAT, FR
Rare Pair of Art Nouveau Silver-Plated Vases by WMF (c.1900) A striking and rare pair of silver-plated Art Nouveau vases by WMF (Württe...
Metal, Silver Plate
H 7.88 in Dm 2.76 in
WMF Art Nouveau Silver Plated Vase with Glass Liners, Germany, 1900
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Antwerp, BE
One WMF Art Nouveau silver plated vase with decoration and original glass liners. There is only one left for sale so the price shown is not for the set but for a vase.
Silver
H 14.4 in W 7.5 in D 6.1 in
Pair of Art Nouveau WMF Maiden Vases
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Pair of Art Nouveau WMF twin handled vases, featuring maidens wearing flowing dresses. The bottom of the dress forms the base. A flowering tree flows up from the base. Complete with ...
Metal
H 5.91 in W 18.9 in D 11.03 in
Art Nouveau Silver Jardinière With Waved Glass Liner Wilhelm Binder Germany 1900
By Wilhelm Binder
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant silver jardinière of elliptical base form on four flared feet with volute bond, downwardly flaring smooth wall with delicate ribbed band at the lower rim, constriction at the...
Silver
H 4.5 in W 12 in D 4.5 in
Art Nouveau Centrepiece
Located in New York, NY
This ravishing Art Nouveau silver plated centrepiece is decorated with butterflies, flowers, and budding tendrils, and retains the original applied patina and cobalt-blue-glass liner...
Silver Plate
H 11.5 in W 16 in D 16 in
Antique English Silver Plated and Cut Glass Epergne
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique English silver plated epergne. Four arm design, each with cut glass inset bowl. Center cut glass inset bowl. Stand alone is 10” tall x 5.5” deep x 8.25” wide. Stamped on the ...
Silver Plate
H 9 in W 9 in D 5.5 in
WMF Art Nouveau Silverplated Dragonfly Motif & Engraved Green Crystal Box
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
WMF Art Nouveau Silverplated Dragonfly Motif & Engraved green crystal box Germany, 1900s An exceptional example of the WMF Art Nouveau workmanship, combining the silvered figural m...
Crystal, Silver Plate
H 10.5 in Dm 8 in
Arts and Crafts Hand Hammered Copper Vase
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Lovely Arts and Crafts "pumpkin" from hand hammered copper vase. Out of a local estate the piece has great patina and wear. A small ding to t...
Copper
H 15.36 in W 18.51 in D 10.24 in
Art Nouveau Oval Fruit Stand With Original Cut Glass Bowl, WMF Germany, Ca. 1910
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Lavishly designed silver-plated frame, standing on four feet that form a square in the shape of artfully entwined stylised branches and tendrils, supporting the large oval openwork w...
Metal, Silver Plate
H 7.68 in W 18.51 in D 8.27 in
Art Nouveau Jardinière, Rose Tendrils & Clear-Green Glass, WMF Germany, 1910
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Elaborately designed silver-plated mounting in the form of skilfully intertwined rose tendrils, forming an oval ring with four feet, which serves as a holder for the glass vessel, wh...
Metal, Silver Plate
H 8.47 in W 15.56 in D 9.85 in
Sculptural Art Nouveau Jardinière With Butterflies And Tendrils, WMF, Germany
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Elaborately designed vessel in an oval base shape standing on four cantilevered feet, openwork wall with symmetrically laid ribbons, bows and tendrils with berries, playing around tw...
Silver Plate, Metal
H 25.2 in W 19.69 in D 7.09 in
Art Nouveau Centerpiece WMF 1900
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Art Nouveau centerpiece WMF Manufacturer WMF Sealed at its base. Art nouveau design. German Origin Circa 1900 Metal silver plated. Perfect condition. ...
Metal
H 14.18 in W 28.35 in D 13 in
Large Art Nouveau Splendid Flower Dish with Bacchants, WMF Germany, 1906
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Large silver vessel on oval ground plan, oval ring with surrounding frieze decoration standing on four rocailles and volute feet as a base, wall narrowing to a groove, above it widen...
Silver Plate
Silvered Ice Bucket with Lid and Palisander Handles by Wmf, Germany, circa 1915
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Beautiful Silvered Art Nouveau Ice Bucket artfully processed by the famous german company of WMF. Coming from the period around 1915, this beaut...
Brass
H 7.4 in Dm 7.7 in
Silvered Brass Champagne Cooler Art Nouveau by WMF, Germany, circa 1915
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely silvered brass champagne cooler artfully processed by the famous company of WMF. Coming from the Art Nouveau period in Germany circa 1915, this beautiful designed silvered bot...
Brass
H 8.1 in Dm 7.1 in
Brass Wine Cooler or Cachepot by WMF Art Nouveau, Germany, circa 1915
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Brass wine cooler or cachepot artfully made by the famous company of WMF from the Art Nouveauperiod in Germany, circa 1915. The great shaped brass bottle holder shows a beautiful emb...
Brass
H 14 in Dm 8 in
WMF German Jugendstil Chalice Vessel with Dragon Motif
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Astoria, NY
German Jugendstil pair of silvered brass chalice vessels made by the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik or WMF. The pieces have a bowl shaped vessel with...
Brass
H 8.07 in W 20.86 in D 6.29 in
WMF Germany Art Nouveau Flower Dish Jardiniere Original Glass Liner c.1905-10
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Vienna, AT
Outstanding WMF Art Nouveau flower dish / JARDINIERE (silver plated) with original glass inner. The silver plated part of flower dish is decorated with most elegant Art Nouveau orn...
Silver Plate, Nickel