Austrian? 3 tiered brass table or plant stand

somethingels's picture
Category: 
General Antiques and Collectibles
Medium - What is the item made out of (e.g. "silver")?: 
brass
Distinguishing marks or signature (e.g. artist's name, silver hallmark): 
L&L WMC 8696 a mark with circles that looks like a flower/petals
Date Period (Estimated date of item if known): 
unknown pre 1950
Size and dimensions of this item: 
29"high 14"wide
Weight: 
20lbs
Condition: 
Mint
History: 
a friend of mine says her mother has had it many years... more than 50
Long Description and Pictures (jpg, gif, png): 

A  lovely  brass item: three tiered  ornate  end table  or  jardiniere (plant stand).  The cast brass filigree work on tiers and legs makes this quite the showpiece. Has been referrred to as an Austrian table. The stand comes apart by unscrewing the fancy knobs makes it easy for shipping or moving.  This  item has patina! 

The  following  manufacturers mark is clear:  ©L&L WMC  and the number 8696 also,  there is also a series of circles stamped in circular pattern  - it looks like round leafed daisy

For Sale?: 
Yes, list item as "For Sale"
Photos: 
three tiered stand jardiniere table
ornate cast brass filigree on legs
lovey cast brass filigree work on the stand
unscrews
manufacturers mark L&L WMC 8689
circular pattern of circles on bottom

Comments

norm's picture

Re: Austrian? 3 tiered brass table or plant stand

L&LWMC was a metal casting company out of NJ, that mostly did lamps.  They closed shop somewhere before 1980, and opened somewhere about 1937. ( Loevsky&Loevsky White Metal castings), Carlstadt, NJ..   I personally, think their stuff goes cheap, and they dont bring high prices.  I've literally paid less then scrap value for some metal lamps.   IN the late 60's, and 70's the company appears to have always included the copyright date, thus, this might be from the early 60's.  (They filed a copyright infringement on a 1964 desgin against Cornell Metals, and thus, you'll notice a "copyright and a date" in the late 60's, 70's.).  "The Brothers Lov vsky", had an interesting pension plan, that was deamed "discriminatory", since it included only salaried workers, and not union workers. 

Thus, they and their wives had pensions, however, they were also the stock holders, holding 50% of the stock each.  They make several court appearences over the years....copyright...tax-pension plan...etc.  These plans defined the term "top-heavy".  (George and Louis Loevsky each owned 50% of the stock in the L & L White Metal Casting Corporation, a Subchapter S corporation).   Metal-workers are not necessarily business savy, and this bondogle of a mistake, was the death of this company.  Not getting the pension correct, also affected their tax liabliltiy, and ended the company.

George Loevsky, Ruth Loevsky, Louis Loevsky and Faye Loevsky lost their appeal in 1973, and closed up shop soon after.  Some web references are getting confused, George and Ruth filed joint taxes, and Louis and Faye filed joint taxes, George and Louis were the owners.   However, because George and Ruth appear in tax court references and got sued first, they are often assumed to be the owners.  This is slightly off logic.

One of the more interesting assides, was that the workers were union, and traded pension for other things, thus, the legal problem which ended the company was actually negiotated and requested for by the union.

The company produced metal parts for lamps, furnature, and even unfinished for customers, thus, it would not be unusual to find their copyright on one piece of a lamp, that the company itself did not design.  Court documents detail their business.