Silver maker
S. Kirk & Son (Kirk / Kirk Stieff) marks
Samuel Kirk founded the firm in Baltimore in 1815 and worked with John Smith until 1820.
- Active
- 1815–1979 (then part of Kirk Stieff)
- Based in
- Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Marks listed
- 8
- Typical pieces
- repoussé holloware, flatware, tea services
The marks, by date
Each mark’s wording is written out as a transcription: the words and line breaks, not a picture of the mark. Where a source describes a mark instead of quoting it, the description is shown in italics.
Kirk & Smith partnership.
Script.
Several name and initial marks, some with 11 OZ.
History
In 1828 Kirk introduced the heavy repoussé decoration that became known as the Baltimore style, and the business passed through several family partnerships (S. Kirk & Son, S. Kirk & Sons) before incorporating in 1896. Stieff bought the firm in 1979, forming the Kirk Stieff Company, which Brown-Forman bought in 1990.
Dating clues
- The exact firm name dates a Kirk piece: '& Son' (1846–1861 and 1868–1890), '& Sons' (1861–1868), '& Son Co.' (1896–1924), '& Son Inc.' (1925–1932), per the 925-1000 chart.
- 925-1000's chart shows Kirk marks from about 1825 to about 1970.
Other names on the marks
Kirk & Smith; Samuel Kirk; S. Kirk & Sons; S. Kirk & Son Co.; S. Kirk & Son Inc.; Kirk Stieff Co.
Where sources disagree: 925-1000's alphabetical list dates Kirk & Smith to c.1818–1823, while its Kirk chart shows 1817–1820 and silvercollection.it says the Smith partnership ran until 1820. The chart leaves 1890–1896 without a mark.
Sources
Marks help identify a maker and a date range, but they can’t prove a piece is genuine. Reproductions and later reissues can carry old marks. This entry isn’t an appraisal.