Brahmfeld & Gutruf

Brahmfeld & Gutruf is a Hamburg jewellery house founded in 1743 by the gold- and silversmith Hinrich Brahmfeld, and is regarded as the oldest still-existing German jewellery company. Its history reaches back to the 18th century, when Hinrich Brahmfeld, born in 1703, was permitted as the son of a bourgeois family to set up independently in 1729 and to purchase the privileged office of gold- and silversmith. He established the business in the ABC-Straße 55 near the Gänsemarkt, where his descendants worked for the following hundred years. His fine silverwork for Hamburg society laid the foundation for the house's reputation, and his master piece — a shapely silver coffee pot — is today exhibited as a cultural asset in the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte. In 1769 he was elected one of the four highly regarded 'Älterleute', whose main task was the 'Beschau', the testing of silver content and stamping with the city's assay mark. The house's international standing was already evident in the 18th century: the Tsar in Moscow ordered 300 silver pieces for the Kremlin armoury, and further pieces, such as a valuable silver Torah shield donated in 1765 for the Celle synagogue, are held today in the Jewish Museum Amsterdam. Hinrich Brahmfeld died in 1782. His son Caspar Jacob Brahmfeld (1747–1814) followed his father's path and was named master in 1785. His son Johann Friedrich (1790–1852) took over the business and further increased its renown; in 1815 he received from the Hamburg council the commission to deliver twelve heavy silver candlesticks and four girandoles to the official building, and further commissions and donations gradually created a significant council silver treasure. As Johann Friedrich's marriage produced only daughters, and women could not then practise the gold- and silversmith's profession, his daughter Emilie Brahmfeld married the commercial traveller Johann Georg Gutruf (1816–1884), who gave the jewellery business its double name and was admitted as a partner to the jewellery, gold and silver goods house. According to tradition he was one of the first to import diamonds from South Africa to Germany and to resell them via the Netherlands. The Great Fire of 1842 destroyed parts of the original business building in the ABC-Straße, so Gutruf, who had acquired the necessary wealth, decided in 1850 to move to the Jungfernstieg, a renowned address with a direct view of the Binnenalster. This shop was to remain the jeweller's main house for 160 years, until 2010. Emilie and Johann Georg Gutruf also had no sons; again it was a daughter, Antonie, who ensured the family business's continuity by marrying Eduard L. Moll in 1862. The first son from this marriage, Eduard Gutruf Moll (1894–1947), secured the further succession. As a trained and ambitious merchant he pursued goals beyond the making of high-quality gold and silver goods, and in 1913 he laid the foundation stone for one of Hamburg's well-known office buildings, the still-existing 'Gutruf-Haus', which extends from the Jungfernstieg to Neuer Wall 14 and was completed in 1915 despite the outbreak of the First World War. Over its more than 260-year history the company also operated branches at home and abroad: shops in Berlin, Vienna, Baden-Baden and on Sylt were run under the name Brahmfeld & Gutruf. Today the company's address is Neuer Wall 18 in Hamburg. Since 2010 the house has been run by the jeweller family Freisfeld. Its creations from its own ateliers stand for the highest craftsmanship and unobtrusive design, with unique, hand-picked gemstones in the foreground — 'surprisingly Hanseatic', as the house's motto puts it. Frech und vornehm — bold and distinguished at the same time — is described as the artifice in the creations of Brahmfeld & Gutruf. What is hallmarked with Germany's oldest signature 'BG 1743' is meant to be proof of excellent goldsmithing for generations.

The history of the house of Brahmfeld & Gutruf begins in the 18th century. Hinrich Brahmfeld (1703–1782), as the son of a bourgeois family, was permitted in 1729 to set up independently and to purchase the privileged office of gold- and silversmith, which at the time was reserved exclusively for 'honourably and legitimately born citizens'. He laid the foundation stone for the jewellery business that still exists today, then at ABC-Straße 55 near the Gänsemarkt. This was to be the place of work of his descendants for the next hundred years. During his career he laid the foundation for the company's present reputation above all with fine silverwork for Hamburg society. In accordance with guild rules he made his master piece — a shapely silver coffee pot, which is today exhibited as a cultural asset in the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte. Hinrich Brahmfeld married the Hamburger Agnetha Schröder; nine children came from this marriage. He soon counted among Hamburg's most successful goldsmiths. His profane as well as ecclesiastical, i.e. sacred, works were regarded as solid and shapely at the same time. In 1769 he was elected one of the four highly regarded 'Älterleute', whose most important task was the 'Beschau' — the testing of silver content and stamping with the city's assay mark. German silversmithing of the 18th century was promoted by the generous commissions of the wealthy merchant families. The Hanseatic goldsmith Brahmfeld & Gutruf was also able to prove itself internationally. The Tsar in Moscow heard of the Hanseatic craftsman's artistic skill and ordered 300 silver pieces for the Kremlin armoury. Further special exhibits are today in the Jewish Museum Amsterdam — for example the valuable silver Torah shield donated in 1765 for the Celle synagogue by Isaac Gans, court agent of George III. Not least these international commissions point to the constantly high level of his silversmithing. Hinrich Brahmfeld died in 1782 at the age of 79. Caspar Jacob Brahmfeld (1747–1814) followed his father Hinrich's career path. In 1785 he too was named master. He married two years later and had five children with his wife Elisabeth. Committed to tradition, he trained many apprentices, the last being his own son Johann Friedrich (1790–1852). The latter soon took over the company and continued to bring growing fame to the reputation and the name Brahmfeld. In 1832 he was appointed a deliberation member of the Patriotische Gesellschaft founded in 1765 — an honourable task, for the Hamburg society for the promotion of arts and useful trades gladly relied on the advice and expertise of its members. Brahmfeld's standing in the city's elevated circles is also documented by the fact that in 1815 Johann Friedrich received from the Hamburg council the commission to deliver twelve heavy silver candlesticks and four girandoles to the official building. With further commissions and donations a significant council silver treasure gradually came into being. Johann Friedrich was also married. However, his marriage produced only daughters, which is why he worried about the succession of his flourishing business. At that time a woman could not practise the profession of gold- and silversmith. His daughter Emilie Brahmfeld, however, married the commercial traveller Johann Georg Gutruf (1816–1884), who gave the jewellery business its double name and was admitted as a partner to the jewellery, gold and silver goods house. Johann Georg Gutruf, like his forebears, ensured a high level of recognition far beyond the borders of the Hanseatic city for over three decades. According to tradition he was one of the first to import diamonds from South Africa to Germany and to resell them via the Netherlands, where the first diamond exchange was founded in 1893. The Great Fire, to which large parts of the Free and Hanseatic City fell victim in 1842, also destroyed parts of the original business building in the ABC-Straße. Gutruf, who had acquired the necessary wealth, therefore decided in 1850 to move to the Jungfernstieg, a renowned address with a direct view of the Binnenalster. This shop was to remain the jeweller's main house for 160 years, until 2010. Emilie and Johann Georg Gutruf also had no sons. Once again it was a daughter, Antonie, who ensured the family business's continued existence through marriage. In 1862 she married Eduard L. Moll. The first son from this marriage, christened Eduard Gutruf Moll (1894–1947), secured the further succession. He married Laetitia Amsinck (1864–1945) at the age of 25 and became the proud father of four children. As a trained and ambitious merchant, Eduard Gutruf Moll had goals that went beyond the making of high-quality gold and silver goods. In 1913 he laid the foundation stone for one of Hamburg's well-known office buildings, the still-existing 'Gutruf-Haus'. The large building, which extends from the Jungfernstieg to Neuer Wall 14, he built simply and plainly on the spot where the jewellery shop built by his grandfather had stood. The First World War broke out already during the construction period, but this could not prevent its completion in 1915. Over its more than 260-year history the company also operated branches at home and abroad: shops in Berlin, Vienna, Baden-Baden and on Sylt were run under the name Brahmfeld & Gutruf. Today the company's address is Neuer Wall 18 in Hamburg. Since 2010 the house has been run by the jeweller family Freisfeld. Its creations from its own ateliers stand for the highest craftsmanship and unobtrusive design, with unique and hand-picked gemstones in the foreground — surprisingly Hanseatic. 'Surprisingly Hanseatic' — what made jewellery so attractive in the sometimes stiff city of Hamburg, the surprisingly foreign, colourful and cosmopolitan within the fine Hamburg dark blue, became the guiding idea and the motto. Frech und vornehm — bold and distinguished — and both at once: that is the artifice in the creations of Brahmfeld & Gutruf. The sparkling joy of life in the jewel that never leaves the fine frame. Exactly as the world loves Hamburg: Hanseatic and distinguished and at the same time full of fantasy and zest for life. Perfection. An idea seeks a form: jewellery images arise in the head. And without a hand they never become pieces of jewellery: in the goldsmith's craft much has remained as it was. Much sensitivity is required for a noble stone really to come into its own. This craft is our daily bread and has a long tradition in the house: Hinrich Brahmfeld, who founded our Hamburg jewellery house in 1743, was one of the gifted gold- and silversmiths of his time. Uncompromising. For the jewels of Brahmfeld & Gutruf there are no compromises, for what is hallmarked with Germany's oldest signature 'BG 1743' should be proof of excellent goldsmithing for generations.

• 2010

  The Freisfeld jeweller family takes over the house; the company address becomes Neuer Wall 18 in Hamburg.

• 1915

  The 'Gutruf-Haus', extending from the Jungfernstieg to Neuer Wall 14, is completed despite the First World War.

• 1913

  Eduard Gutruf Moll lays the foundation stone for the 'Gutruf-Haus' office building.

• 1862

  Antonie Gutruf marries Eduard L. Moll, ensuring the family business's continuity.

• 1850

  Johann Georg Gutruf moves the business to the Jungfernstieg, which remains the main house for 160 years.

• 1842

  The Great Fire destroys parts of the original business building in the ABC-Straße.

• 1832

  Johann Friedrich Brahmfeld is appointed a deliberation member of the Patriotische Gesellschaft.

• 1815

  Johann Friedrich Brahmfeld receives a commission from the Hamburg council to deliver twelve heavy silver candlesticks and four girandoles.

• 1785

  Caspar Jacob Brahmfeld, son of Hinrich, is named master.

• 1782

  Hinrich Brahmfeld dies at the age of 79.

• 1769

  Hinrich Brahmfeld is elected one of the four 'Älterleute', responsible for the 'Beschau' (silver assay).

• 1743

  Hinrich Brahmfeld founds the Hamburg jewellery house, regarded as the oldest still-existing German jewellery company.

• 1729

  Hinrich Brahmfeld is permitted to set up independently and purchases the privileged office of gold- and silversmith.

One of Germany's oldest jewellery houses, combining Hanseatic understatement with bold, colourful, cosmopolitan design and high goldsmithing craftsmanship.

• Fine silverwork for Hamburg society

• Master piece silver coffee pot (now in the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte)

• Silver Torah shield donated in 1765 for the Celle synagogue (now in the Jewish Museum Amsterdam)

• Twelve heavy silver candlesticks and four girandoles for the Hamburg official building (1815)

• Own-atelier jewellery creations with hand-picked gemstones

• Pieces hallmarked with the 'BG 1743' signature

1. 1Brahmfeld & Gutruf » Hamburger Juweliere seit 1743brahmfeld-gutruf.com
2. 2Brahmfeld & Gutruf — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Brahmfeld & Gutruf — Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org