S. Kirk & Son Silver Guide: The 'Baltimore Flower' and America's Oldest Silversmith

If Tiffany represents elegance and Gorham represents innovation, then S. Kirk & Son is defined by one word: Intricate.

Founded in 1815 in Baltimore, Maryland, this firm is America’s oldest silversmith house. At a time when American silversmiths were merely imitating English styles, founder Samuel Kirk boldly introduced an elaborately chased repoussé technique, creating the famous “Repoussé” (Baltimore Flower) style.

This style is so unique that collectors can often identify it at a glance: “That’s definitely Kirk.”

🔍 Step 1: Dating by Marks

Unlike Gorham’s pictorial symbols, Kirk silver is dated primarily by changes in the firm’s name. As the business passed down through generations, each subtle name change corresponded to a specific historical period.

1. Early Period: S. Kirk (1815 - 1846)

• Mark: S. Kirk or S.K.
• Material: Mostly Coin Silver (900-917 purity).
• Feature: Extremely rare. Often shows signs of early hand-craftsmanship. Sometimes accompanied by 11/12 (91.7% purity), the Baltimore standard.

2. The Golden Age: S. Kirk & Son (1846 - 1861, 1868 - 1896)

• Mark: S. Kirk & Son
• Material: Transitioned from Coin Silver in the early years to Sterling in the later years.
• The Gap Trap: You’ll notice this name was used twice. What happened in between (1861-1868)?
  • Due to partnership changes, the firm was renamed S. Kirk & Sons (note the plural ‘s’). If your mark has the Sons plural, it dates to the Civil War era (1861-1868) and is highly collectible.

3. The Corporation Era: S. Kirk & Son Co. (1896 - 1924)

• Mark: S. Kirk & Son Co.
• Feature: The addition of the Co. suffix. Production volume was high during this period, and craftsmanship was mature. These are the most common antique Kirk pieces on the market.
• Purity: Almost exclusively 925/1000 (Sterling).

4. Modern Era: S. Kirk & Son Inc. (1925 - 1932) and beyond

• Mark: S. Kirk & Son Inc.
• Feature: The addition of Inc.
• Current Status: In 1979, Kirk was acquired by the Stieff Company, becoming Kirk Stieff. If you see Kirk Stieff, it is a modern piece from the 1980s or later.

🌹 Step 2: The Baltimore Flower (The Repousse Pattern)

Pick up a piece of Kirk silver, and you’ll struggle to find a plain surface.

Repoussé (French for “pushed up”) is a technique where the design is hammered from the reverse side to create a high relief on the front.

• Kirk mastered this so well that the style is often simply called “Maryland Silver” or “Baltimore Repousse”.
• Visuals: Dense grapevines, roses, and ivy leaves covering every inch of teapots, vases, and spoon handles.
• Pros:
  1. Striking Beauty: Incredible visual impact.
  2. Durability: The busy pattern hides scratches effectively.
• Cons:
  • Hard to Clean: Those deep crevices are a nightmare for silver polish. If you see white residue in the gaps, it’s dried polish left by a previous owner.

💡 Cleaning Tip: When cleaning Kirk Repousse, always use a soft horsehair brush with mild soapy water. You need to wash out the polish from the cracks; otherwise, it dries into an ugly white chalky residue.

💰 Step 3: The Value of Coin Silver

On early Kirk pieces (pre-1860), you might see marks like 10.15 or 11 oz.

This was an American purity system:

• 10.15: Represents 10 oz 15 dwt (Pennyweight), roughly 89.6% (close to 900 Coin Silver).
• 11 oz: Represents 11/12 purity, or 91.7% (very close to Sterling’s 92.5%).

Do not undervalue them because they aren’t “Sterling”! On the contrary, to advanced collectors, an 1830s Kirk 11oz “Coin Silver” pitcher is often far more valuable than a 1900s Kirk Sterling one.

The former witnesses the pioneer era when American silversmiths were forging their own standards from melted coins.

📝 Summary: Kirk Dating Cheat Sheet

Next time you see a heavy silver canister covered in flowers, check the bottom. If it simply says S. Kirk, hold your breath—you may have just found a fossil from American silver history.

References

• SilverCollection.it - S. Kirk & Son Marks
• Samuel Kirk Maker’s Marks - 925-1000.com