When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
vintage mid-century heavy silver-plated mini creamer manufactured by the renowned Dutch silverware company Sola (Solafabriek M.J. Gerritsen) located in Zeist, Netherlands.The technical breakdown of the stamps and markings on the piece reveals its origins:• SOLA: The manufacturer's stamp. Sola Zilver was founded in 1922 and became highly famous for producing exceptionally durable tableware, hotelware, and custom pieces for airlines and ocean liners.
• 90: A traditional continental European silver plating hallmark. Rather than representing a percentage of silver (like 925 sterling), a "90" stamp means that exactly 90 grams of pure silver were used to electroplate a standard batch of 24 pieces of tableware. This indicates a very high-quality, heavy silver plate (referred to in Dutch as Zwaar Verzilverd) designed to withstand heavy daily use without wearing down.
• F: This is a chronological year letter used by the factory. In Sola's historical dating system, the letter F signifies that the item was produced in 1945.Sola is a well-known European manufacturer of cutlery and silverware, with primary historical roots in The Netherlands and Switzerland.
Sola The Netherlands (Sola Fabriek M.J. Gerritsen)
• History: Founded in 1922 in Zeist, Netherlands (growing out of an Amsterdam jewelry business started in 1868 by Johannes Albertus Adolf Gerritsen and later established as Sola by Marius J. Gerritsen).
• Markings: Vintage Dutch pieces marked "SOLA-ZILVER" or "Zwaar Verzilverd" indicate heavy silver-plated flatware and service-ware produced by the Sola factory in Zeist.
• Website: Learn more via Sola Hospitality.
Sola Switzerland (Sola Switzerland AG)
• History: Traces its origins back to 1866 in Central Europe as a manufacturer of fine silverware and precision cutlery, operating for over 150 years.
• Production: Specializes in high-grade stainless steel flatware, tableware, and in-house silver-plating services for global hospitality and consumer markets.
Post-War Period: Hotel-Café-Restaurant De Pool continued to welcome locals and tourists well into the post-war era, with souvenir postcards from the business circulating into the 1960s before it eventually transitioned or closed.
It was a well-known Hotel-Café-Restaurant located in the heart of Amsterdam, Netherlands, at Damrak 42-43.
Active Era: The establishment operated throughout the mid-20th century as a popular hospitality venue right on the Damrak, the busy main avenue leading from Amsterdam Central Station.Discover your next Treasured Keepsake: Curated Collectibles for the Modern Connoisseur
