Starry Night Antiques :: Rare Kirk Sterling Silver Serving Spoon, "Mayflower" Circa 1846-1861

Porcelain

Pottery

Primitives

Textiles

Vintage Clothing & Acc.

Add To Cart

Metalwares

Sterling Silver

Rare Kirk Sterling Silver Serving Spoon, "Mayflower" Circa 1846-1861

Our Price: $ 45.00

This beautiful, hand-chased, sterling silver spoon is impressed with "S. Kirk & Son, 10.15." The Baltimore Assay Office used "10.15" between 1830 and 1868 to indicate the purity of silver in the piece. This spoon is 8 inches long and the unusual, pierced bowl is 2 1/4 inches wide and 1/2 inch deep. We are not certain of the purpose; perhaps a pierced berry spoon, or a sugar sifter. This rare piece is in the "Mayflower" pattern, which was introduced in 1846, and has been engraved with "LAB" in a graceful script. The condition is excellent. there are no dents, twists, breaks, or other problems. This spoon weighs 1.7 ounces.

List Date: 02/07/10
Date Reduced: 03/07/10
Date Reduced: 04/07/10
Date Reduced: 05/07/10

Kirk Silver

In 1815, Samuel Kirk opened a small silver shop in Baltimore, MD, having just completed his apprenticeship to James Howell, a Philadelphia silversmith. Through the years, he and the other skilled silversmiths of the Kirk Silver Company developed a renewed interest by the public in the beauty of "repousse" or "raised in relief" patterns. The Kirk Silver Company remained one of the finest, and oldest silver companies in America. Among the company's customers were Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, the Carrolls of Maryland, the Astors, the Roosevelts, and even Lafayette stopped into the shop to order a pair of silver goblets. Through the years, one or more of Samuel Kirk's sons joined the firm and the name changed to include them. Samuel Kirk died in 1872. In 1979, the company merged with the Stieff Silver Company, and in 1990 the Kirk Stieff Company was acquired by Brown-forman, whiskey distillers of Louisville, KY.