In many respects the history of Wendt's is a potted history of Australian gold and silver smithing. State directories of the late 1800s show that they sold watches, jewellery, rings, trophies, church plate, optical goods and electroplate. They also repaired watches and jewellery.

Joachim Matthias Wendt arrived in Port Adelaide in 1854, just 18 years after the foundation of South Australia. He was born in 1830 in Denmark. His mother died when he was nine years of age, leaving his father to look after him and two sisters. Joachim became a watchmaker's apprentice.

He brought these skills to South Australia, quickly opening a small watchmaking and jewellery shop in Pirie Street, Adelaide. Business was good and so he soon moved to better premises in Rundle Street.

Wendt's soon became recognised as a top quality shop. The jewellery, silverware, watches and clocks were equal to the best which more...

33 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

J.M. Wendt Australian silver Whisky hip flask. In leather case,…

J.M. Wendt Australian silver Whisky hip flask. In leather case, height 7.5 cm W315g, flask

South Australian Angus cup silver trophy, rare, 1909 Royal…

1909 SA Angus Cup Silver Trophy - J.M & E.F O'Sullivan

South Australian Angus cup silver trophy, rare, 1909 Royal Agricultural and horticultural Society of South Australia Winners, solid silver twin handled trophy for 'Three year old Entire' won by J.M and E.F O'Sullivan, September 1909, stamped Wendt with…

Silver trophy, hallmarked sterling silver, late 19th century…

Wendt's Sterling Silver Trophy with Figural Horse Top

Silver trophy, hallmarked sterling silver, late 19th century Wendt's, by Joachim Matthias Wendt (1830-1917) twin handle with etched tree trunk base and figural horse to top, etched camel to back, 1893 birthday Cup- won by Slow Tom, height 43.5 cm, weight…

J. M. Wendt Colonial Australian silver trophy ewer engraved…

Adelaide Hunt Club Steeplechase Trophy Ewer, 1889

J. M. Wendt Colonial Australian silver trophy ewer engraved 'Adelaide Hunt Club Steeple Chasers, 1889, Drag Cup Presented by W. A. Horn Esq. M.P. Won by Pilot. Ridden by Mr. T. McFie, Distance Three Miles, Time 7 Min 14 Sec' stamped 'J. M. Wendt,…

Victoria cut crystal etched vase, star etched crystal with…

Victoria Crystal Vase with Sterling Silver Collar

Victoria cut crystal etched vase, star etched crystal with sterling silver collared base with embossed Wendts stamp

Christening mug, South Australian colonial silver by J.M.Wendt…

South Australian Colonial Silver Christening Mug

Christening mug, South Australian colonial silver by J.M.Wendt Adelaide with mount Gambier mark to base., height 7.2 cm, width 116.8g

Early 20th century Australian sterling silver water polo trophy,…

1902 Australian Water Polo Trophy by J.M. Wendt

Early 20th century Australian sterling silver water polo trophy, by J.M Wendt, height 19 cm, Wt 591grams inscribed 'South Australian polo Association Challenge Cup, presented by R Barr-Smith and won by Adelaide Polo Clu, 1902'

J. M. Wendt, 'Waterloo Cup' Colonial silver trophy cup,…

Colonial Silver Waterloo Cup Trophy by J. M. Wendt

J. M. Wendt, 'Waterloo Cup' Colonial silver trophy cup, engraved 'S. A. Coursing club, Waterloo cup, presented by Mr T. Barr Smith, won by Mr C. Mallen's Br D Mozart, by Faultfinder, Buckland park, 1889', stamped 'J. M. Wendt, Adelaide' with crown and…

A Colonial silver equestrian trophy cup and cover attributed to…

Colonial Silver Equestrian Trophy Cup and Cover by J.M. Wendt

A Colonial silver equestrian trophy cup and cover attributed to J. M Wendt, the cover with horse finial, the bell shaped body having repousse floral wreath to one side and laurel wreath to the reverse, flanked by a pair of scrolled engraved handles,…

An Australian silver flask by J. M Wendt, Adelaide, plain…

Australian Silver Flask by J.M. Wendt, Adelaide, c. 1890

An Australian silver flask by J. M Wendt, Adelaide, plain design with detachable cup, hinged handle. Stamped 'J. M. Wendt Jeweller and Silversmith Adelaide broken Hill', sovereign head/crown/lion passant. Cap with monogram, circa 1890. Provenance: The…

A pair of Australian silver knife rests by J.M. Wendt of…

Australian silver knife rests by J.M. Wendt, 19th century

A pair of Australian silver knife rests by J.M. Wendt of Adelaide, 19th century, stamped J.M.W. with Queen's head and lion passant, 8.5 cm across, 115 grams

Australian silver name brooch by Wendt marked reverse Wendt…

Wendt Lion Australian Silver Name Brooch - 31mm Length

Australian silver name brooch by Wendt marked reverse Wendt Lion. Approx length 31 mm

Wendt napkin rings three South Australian sterling silver…

South Australian Sterling Silver Wendt Napkin Rings with Monograms

Wendt napkin rings three South Australian sterling silver hallmarked: J. M. Wendt, Adelaide & Broken Hill. + monograms, height of largest 3.5 cm

Australian silver cricket cup, c.1885, by Jochim Matthias Wendt,…

Australian Silver Cricket Cup, c.1885, by Jochim Matthias Wendt

Australian silver cricket cup, c.1885, by Jochim Matthias Wendt, inscribed 'Prospect cricket Club/ presented by/ R Robertson Esq President/ for Highest batting Average/ for Season/ 1885 - 6/ won by/ E Beckwith/ average of 17.5', with funnel shaped bowl,…

Late 19th century, South Australian Colonial period, sterling…

Sterling Silver Racing Trophy, Adelaide 1896

Late 19th century, South Australian Colonial period, sterling silver racing trophy by J.M. Wendt Silversmith, Adelaide, inscription presented by the Stewards of the Onkaparinga racing club to the rider of the Winner at the Amateur steeple chase., won by…

A near pair of Australian sterling silver napkin rings, later…

Pair of Wendt Sterling Silver Napkin Rings, Australia, Late 19th Century

A near pair of Australian sterling silver napkin rings, later 19th century, with maker's marks for Wendt (of Adelaide), plain cylindrical rings, both engraved with initials, hallmarked to the interiors, silver weight 70gr

Wendt: Two sterling silver napkin rings, South Australian, late…

South Australian Sterling Silver Napkin Rings by J.M. Wendt

Wendt: Two sterling silver napkin rings, South Australian, late 19th century, one stamped 'J.M. Wendt Jeweler Adelaide & Broken Hill', the other stamped 'Wendt' with hallmarks, 82 grams total

A pair of Australian silver knife rest by J.M. Wendt of…

Australian Silver Knife Rests by J.M. Wendt, 19th Century

A pair of Australian silver knife rest by J.M. Wendt of Adelaide, 19th century stamped J.M.W. with Queen's head and lion passant 8.5 cm across, 115 grams

An Australian sterling silver serviette ring, maker: Wendt's of…

Australian Wendt's Sterling Silver Serviette Ring

An Australian sterling silver serviette ring, maker: Wendt's of Adelaide

The Jobson trophy. Very impressive presentation salver,…

Jobson Trophy: Sterling Silver Salver, Broken Hill Engineer's Honor

The Jobson trophy. Very impressive presentation salver, sterling silver hallmarked London 1891, salver on four avian claw & ball feet, central inscription reads: Presented to C Jobson Esq MJCE etc Engineer to the Broken Hill Water Supply as a mark of…

Adelaide Racing Club trophy cup. 9ct gold, beautifully stepped…

Adelaide Racing Club 1954 Birthday Cup

Adelaide Racing Club trophy cup. 9ct gold, beautifully stepped foot rising to small knob, large bowl with applied twin handles, inscribed, Adelaide Racing Club Inc., Birthday Cup 1954 won by Engraver, Owners Messrs A E & J F Trim & J F Courtnay, marked to…

Cruet set. Sterling silver hallmarked Birmingham 1947, five…

Sterling Silver Cruet Set with Case and Spoons

Cruet set. Sterling silver hallmarked Birmingham 1947, five piece box set, comprising pair of salts, pair of pepper shakers, mustard pot & three spoons in case, retailed by Wendt 74 Rundle Street Adelaide

A fine pair of Victorian apostle spoons, 1888 London, with…

Victorian Apostle Spoons with Figural Finials and Presentation Box

A fine pair of Victorian apostle spoons, 1888 London, with maker's marks for John Aldwinckle & Thomas Slater, the elegant spoons with shallow gilt washed circular bowls, with slender shaped stems with bright cut designs to cast upper sections surmounted…

Australian silver mug, made by Wendts for Walker and Hall

Wendts' Australian Silver Mug for Walker and Hall

Australian silver mug, made by Wendts for Walker and Hall

Australian silver serviette ring with rare mark J.M. Wendt…

Rare J.M. Wendt Adelaide Silver Serviette Ring

Australian silver serviette ring with rare mark J.M. Wendt Adelaide and Broken Hill

An early Australian sterling silver napkin ring, by JM Wendt,…

JM Wendt Sterling Silver Napkin Ring from Adelaide

An early Australian sterling silver napkin ring, by JM Wendt, Adelaide

A silver key, Wendt's, 1927 the silver key bearing the…

Melba's Silver Key, Wendt's 1927

A silver key, Wendt's, 1927 the silver key bearing the inscription Presented to Dame Nellie Melba, 9.11.27, On her opening the completion of the Queen's Home, length approximately 73 mm, signed Wendts, case by Wendts Jewellers. Property from the…

Two Australian Wendt sterling silver napkin rings, both…

Pair of Wendt Sterling Silver Napkin Rings

Two Australian Wendt sterling silver napkin rings, both hallmarked the tallest 33 cm marked JM Wendt (jeweler Adelaide and broken Hill), engraved MSL, the other marked Wendt engraved LB, 64 grams approx in total.

An Australian silver cup by Jochim Matthis Wendt, Adelaide,…

Australian Silver Cup by Jochim Wendt, circa 1880

An Australian silver cup by Jochim Matthis Wendt, Adelaide, circa 1880

A fine and important sterling silver presentation palm-tree…

Adelaide Presentation Palm-Tree Centrepiece by J.M. Wendt, 1880

A fine and important sterling silver presentation palm-tree centrepiece by Joachim Matthias Wendt of Adelaide, Australian, circa 1880, Inscribed ?Presented to The Mayoress of Adelaide Mrs J. Lavington Bonython, by the citizens in recognition of many…

Antique Australian silver Wendt napkin ring, with silver and…

Australian Wendt Silver Napkin Ring with Maker's Marks

Antique Australian silver Wendt napkin ring, with silver and makers marks, 55 grams

Antique Australian silver Wendt christening mug, engraved with…

Antique Wendt Silver Christening Mug, 1876 Engraved

Antique Australian silver Wendt christening mug, engraved with initials and date 1st Sept 1876, with silver and makers marks - JMW (for Jochim Matthias Wendt of Adelaide), 9.5 cm high approx. 155 grams

A fine Australian sterling silver and ruby box, early 20th…

Australian Ruby Box by Wendt, Early 20th Century

A fine Australian sterling silver and ruby box, early 20th century, with maker's mark for Wendt of Adelaide, with Crown and lion. The circular cushion shaped box with a hinged horseshoe lid with grain set rubies forming a monogram, and having a matte gilt…