South African ‘925’ Sterling silver presentation key by Kurt Jobst, dated September 12, 1949. Presented by the M.O.T.H (Memorable Order of Tin Hats) with presentation inscription.
The Inscription reads:
PRESENTED TO W. J. LAMB ESQ.
PRESIDENT OF
THE JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE
ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING
OF THE TWO COTTAGES ERECTED BY THE JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE AS A WAR MEMORIALTO
THOSE MEMBERS AND CLERKS WHO
MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
IN THE WAR
1939-1945
Dimensions: 11.5 cm long by 3.2 cm wide.
Weight: 44 grams.
KURT JOBST
Kurt Jobst was born in Austria in 1905. He served his apprenticeship in Hanau-am-Main under Professor Berthold and attended the Goldsmith’s Academy. He also attended the Nuremburg Academy of Crafts and the School of Arts and Crafts in Offenbach-am-Main where he met Professor Rudolf Koch. In 1926 he opened his own workshop and married Charlotte Lehmann. In 1935 as the political landscape changed and threatened his own liberal convictions he emigrated to South Africa. He settled in Johannesburg where he opened his workshop which was called The Jobst Shop. Proficient in many forms of metalwork from Cast Iron through to jewellery he was commissioned to make many presentation pieces. Amongst those are a silver powder bowl presented by the South African Government to Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth when she was married in 1947. A box made in gold and containing a diamond was commissioned by the Government in 1947 to mark the Royal tour.
His silver work follows the basic tenets of the Arts & Crafts style that evolved in Europe from the beginning of the 20th century. Clean lines and a hammered surface showing the handcrafted look are typical and the items he made varied from tea services through to water jugs. His silver work is marked 925 (the sterling standard in South Africa). His makers mark is the distinctive linked letters J and K, his surname and in some instances a stylised unicorn. In the early 1970’s he was approached by the Swazi government to relocate his workshop and help in a training scheme for young Swazi’s in design and manufacture of jewellery. In May of 1971 on returning from Mbabane he was killed in a motor accident. His legacy is the amount of superb metalwork that he left behind and interest in his work has shown a marked increase in recent years.