posted 06-05-1999 12:41 PM            

Special Features

The independent Americans would not slavishly reproduce the British patterns for long. Mayflower was one of the first departures from the classic British and is distinctly American. The ability to accurately date Kirk pieces by era make them of special interest to the collector. They are also among the heaviest pieces of the American coin era. The dinner fork here is a full 3 oz. This Mayflower pattern dates from 1846 and the pieces shown bare the "S. Kirk & Son 10.15" marks that would place them between 1846 and 1861. A complete discussion may be found in Rainwater. A similar pattern Old Maryland engraved is still being produced today as are most early Kirk patterns. Such is the thrill of the hunt that early 10.15 pieces such as these can be found in dealers inventories mixed in with the more modern indiscriminately. Some of the collector oriented dealers will seek them out for you, I got some of these from Vi Walker of Indianapolis. However such is the joy of being into a collecting genre early in the cycle that I have never really paid extra over the currently produced variety for the true antiques.

Dating

Kirk began in Baltimore in 1815 which makes him the oldest silver manufacturer in the US. The marks changed every few years with different versions of the company name, pseudo hallmarks and quality marks. The pre 1896 series is distinguished by 10.15 or 11 oz marks referring to the quality of the "coin" silver, the variations make a long treatise but a study of rainwater will usually allow you to determine the date within a 10 year period. 1896 thru 1924 are distinguished by 925/1000 marks and are thus also desirable for collectors.

Pieces Available

Item Length Our cost
Teaspoon 6 �" $30.00
Dessert Spoon 7" $40.00
Dinner Fork 7 �" $55.00
Luncheon Fork 7" $40.00

Also Shown
Salad Fork 925/1000 6 1/8" $25.00

Photo:

Key Pieces
All the old pieces are a challenge. If there exists a third fork - either salad fish or pastry, that would be the most difficult piece. I would expect that knives in the pattern were not made until the 1880's. We use pearl handled cutting knives with this pattern.

comments
The later salad fork (far right in both photos) seems to be a much deeper complete pattern. Is that because of wear, or a different process? I would love to see an early 10.15 piece in mint condition to answer that question.

Does a salad fish or pastry fork exist in the pattern with 10.15 or 10 oz marks? When were the first knives in the pattern made?

posted 06-05-1999 02:09 PM            

Couple of questions:
Can you include a scan of the marks when you show patterns?

How are you defining manufacturer in the statement that Kirk is the oldest in the US?

posted 06-06-1999 01:01 AM            

Good idea about the marks I am getting better at scanning them. I was in fact going to include the scan of the Kirk Marks this morning but had to leave to run an errand:

About Kirk being a "manufacturer". Actually it would be more accurate to say the oldest "silversmithing firm" as does Rainwater. Certainly "manufacturer" would be a stretch of the word when he started his shop in 1815. Rainwater is a little vague on this definition since her book is entitled "Encyclopedia of silver Manufacturers" which contains the full gamut of anyone who ever produced silver.