Cast Iron Foundry Pattern Mould “Super Materiam Ignis Triumphans” — Established 1888 (J.K. Smit) – 12.5cm
Cast Iron Foundry Pattern Mould “Super Materiam Ignis Triumphans” — Established 1888 (J.K. Smit) – 12.5cm
A characterful cast‑iron mould with a wonderfully graphic image of a smith at work, created for the industrial firm J.K. Smit, founded in 1888.
The design is cut in reverse so that, when pressed into sand or another material, it produced a positive, correctly‑read impression. Around the rim runs the Latin motto *SUPER MATERIAM IGNIS TRIUMPHANS* – “Fire triumphant over matter” – with “Established 1888” and “For J.K. Smit” below. At the centre a bare‑torso smith swings his hammer, flanked by a grinding wheel and an anvil under a radiant halo.
This would originally have served in the company’s works as a pattern or die for casting or striking small advertising plaques or medallions – the sort of detail once found on machinery, catalogues and exhibition giveaways. Today it makes a fine paperweight or display piece, encapsulating the confidence of early‑20th‑century heavy industry.
- Original cast‑iron foundry / medal mould
- Latin motto *Super Materiam Ignis Triumphans* – “Fire triumphant over matter”
- Made for industrial firm J.K. Smit, established 1888
- Dynamic blacksmith imagery with anvil and grinding wheel
- 1900–1930, Continental European
- Wonderful weight and patina – ideal industrial desk or shelf piece
Condition: Wonderful weight and patina – ideal industrial desk or shelf piece
Origin: Continental European
Time Period: c.1900–1930
Historical Context
Historical Context
J.K. Smit was an Amsterdam-based company, established in 1888 by Jan Kors Smit, that specialized in industrial diamonds and diamond-tipped cutting tools for drilling and sawing applications. The business grew into a worldwide concern with factories and offices across the globe, including the UK and the US.
Key facts about J.K. Smit:
- Specialty The company primarily dealt with industrial diamonds and related machinery, particularly diamond-tipped core bits and saw blades for use in construction, quarrying, site investigation, and mining.
- Motto Its advertising materials and logo often featured the Latin motto "Super Materiam Ignis Triumphans" ("Over matter, fire triumphs"), alongside an image of a blacksmith at a forge.
- Wartime History During World War II, two company employees helped smuggle industrial diamonds out of the German-occupied Netherlands to prevent them from aiding the enemy, an event that reportedly inspired the 1959 movie Operation Amsterdam.
- Mergers and Legacy In 1984, the Canadian branch, JKS Smit & Sons Diamond Products, acquired Boyles Bros. Drilling Equipment, forming JKS Boyles International Inc.. In 1998, Atlas Copco acquired JKS Boyles International, while JKS Boyles UK Limited separated to maintain an independent presence in the UK and Ireland, where it is still operational today.
Delivery Information
Delivery Information
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