History
Lüdenscheid, the seat of Deumer Silversmiths, lies within a region looking back on two-thousand years of metal production. Already the oldest documents tell of family-run businesses passing on the craft’s knowledge from generation to generation. First there was the iron ore, than the skill and as early as the 13th century forged products were exported to the leading European emporia in Flanders, England and Bohemia. Glimmering shields and the forged chain mail from the local wire production are the most prestigious products of this period.
Child to this tradition, Wilhelm Deumer, too, was brought up in the craft of working metal. However, it was no longer the coat of mail that governed the demand of the 19th century, but the metal button. It was the time when companies, parties and associations mushroomed. Deumer recognized the growing market for company-insignia, medals and member-pins. Together with a partner, who had just returned from Paris where he had learned a revolutionary technique for gold plating, he founded in 1863 the first German factory for medals and pins. It became the principle of this house to combine the region’s ancient craft of metalworking with the most modern production techniques. Out of veneration for his town’s long tradition of craftsmanship, Wilhelm Deumer chose as crest for his own factory: the shield.
He had planned well. In 1905 Deumer employed over 200 co-workers and was one of the most renowned manufacturers of pins and medals in Germany. This was the year Wilhelm Conze took over the business from Wilhelm Deumer’s son Hugo, left childless. Wilhelm Conze was a merchant. Seventh child of a silk manufacturer, he had grown up in a family that supplied the European market with high quality silk. He had spent four years in London where he became fascinated by the elegancy of fashion and accessories of the Edwardian style.
When he learned that Deumer was in need of a successor, he returned to Germany. Wilhelm proofed to be an entrepreneur relying on the combination of tradition and innovation as much as his predecessors had. He modernised the production and the factory buildings, invested in first-rate craftsmanship training for his apprentices and created a new department: Jewellery – Accessories for Men.
Since his London Days, accessories had been Wilhelm’s passion. The company learned how to set stones and refined the methods of enamelling, polishing and galvanising. It was his pride to bring forth a yearly collection of cufflinks, money clips and tie pins, oriented on the latest fashion styles. He made it a testamentory directive to the following generations to continue and elaborate this tradition.
A truly beneficial assignment. Over a hundred years aspiring to perfect our craftsmanship and designs have furthered our production in every department. Be it our sport medals, high quality company gifts or pins for car manufacturers, law firms, hotels, banks and insurers all over the world, be it the Porsche-Insignia – at Deumer, everything begins with the ancient knowledge of metal and its potential and with the love for our beautiful trade, passed on by skilled hands from generation to generation.
However, that today finest cufflinks in teak boxes ornamented with ocean blue crests are sent out into the world is thanks to Wilhelm Deumer, who 1904 was sailing back across the Channel and dreamt of his own collection of perfect accessories.
Lüdenscheid 2011, Johan Conze and
Friedrich Conze-Assmann, 6th Generation