posted 04-16-2000 02:07 AM            

Special Features
The earliest American flatware were direct copies of the British. Kings originated as an 18th Century French design and became popular in England in the beginning of the 19th. There are quite a number of variations including single struck, double struck, shell heel, with and without husks.

In the US Kirk Kings has lasted since 1832 as a single struck pattern but most of the early makes have come and gone. The ends of the spoon handles continue the turned up/turned down debate and we have both in our collection.

Dating
Since Kings was produced in England since 1800 they could have been copied in the US any time after that and are likely to be among the oldest US collectible 5 piece place settings, along with Fiddle and it's variations. As with most coin silver dating is usually according to the makers marks.

In the set below we have :

1. Dinner fork marked R&W Wilson which would place it between 1825 and 1846
   
2. Dessert fork marked Bailey and Company - which would place it between 1846-78 with the pseudohallmarks star,star, eagle/O/shield
   
3. Dessert spoon with turned down handle marked only with a star and then Bailey & Co
   
4. Teaspoon spoon, handle turned up marked with Hallmarks eagle/?/shield or harp
   
   BLYNN & BALDWIN
   
5. Salad/pastry fork, no hallmarks and only BLYNN & BALDWIN
   None are marked either coin or Sterling, although Bailey claimed to make silver to the .925 standard during this period. We would be very interested in some information dating these and identifying the pseudo hallmarks.

Pieces Available (L to R)
item size Our cost Notes
Teaspoon 5 7/8" $30.00 Turned Up
Dessert Spoon 7 1/8" $30.00 Turned Down
Dinner Fork 8" $45.00 Single Struck
Dessert Fork 7 �" $30.00 Double struck
Salad/Pastry Fork 5 �" $25.00

Would be interested in opinions regarding the third fork. Is it a very early salad for or just pastry? Outside tine definitely used for cutting.

Photo:

Key Pieces
The salad/pastry fork

Comments
Coin Kings would make an interesting collection in itself with all the different varieties and makers. Again I would love to have an old book of etiquette to know how the pieces were placed. Possibly the earliest fork, the Wilson with the single strike, is mono on the back indicating it was placed points down. The later double struck dessert fork has its' mono on the front indicating it was placed points up as we do today. The Bailey dessert spoon has handle turned down indicating it was placed point up with the mono on the front. The Blynn & Baldwin teaspoon is turned up as in Hanoverian but has the mono on the front, which would be a contradiction.

In what circumstances were the pieces placed point up and when point down? (See discussion re British Hanoverian and Old English on this topic)