Samuel Kirk & Son Marks: How to Identify and Date Them
Quick answer
Samuel Kirk & Son (sterling silver, United States): what the mark looks like, 4 period variations, how to date a piece and what fakes look like, quoted from museum, company and assay-office sources.
Updated 2026-09-10 · Sources: Wikipedia
Have one? Scan it to see what it's worth.
Download on the App StoreWhat are the key facts?
- Category: Sterling silver
- Country: United States
- Active years: 1815-1990s (approximate; later continued as Kirk Stieff before being absorbed into Lenox)
- What the mark looks like: Pieces are typically struck 'S. KIRK' or 'S.K.' in cartouches, later 'S. KIRK & SON' or 'S. KIRK & SONS' as sons joined the firm, sometimes alongside a Baltimore/Maryland assay mark and an ounce weight.
- Where to look: Underside of hollowware; back of flatware handles.
What the Samuel Kirk & Son mark looks like
Pieces are typically struck 'S. KIRK' or 'S.K.' in cartouches, later 'S. KIRK & SON' or 'S. KIRK & SONS' as sons joined the firm, sometimes alongside a Baltimore/Maryland assay mark and an ounce weight.
How the mark changed over time
- 1815-1846: Kirk works alone or with early partners (e.g., with John Smith 1815-1820) before his sons join the firm; marks are simple 'S. KIRK' forms.
- 1846-1861: Firm becomes 'S. KIRK & SON' once Henry Child Kirk joins.
- 1861-1868: Firm becomes 'S. KIRK & SONS' (plural) with three sons as partners.
- 1868-1870: Firm reverts to 'S. KIRK & SON' (singular) with only Henry Child Kirk.
How to date a piece
The exact wording of the mark ('S. KIRK' vs 'S. KIRK & SON' vs 'S. KIRK & SONS') corresponds to which family members were active partners in a given period, allowing rough dating by decade.
Notes on this entry
Kirk is credited with introducing chased floral repousse decoration to American silver, a style still called 'Baltimore Silver.' A Met Museum collection page title (not independently re-verified from full page text due to repeated server errors during this research) describes the firm as 'America's Oldest Silversmiths, Established 1815.'
How to photograph the mark
Turn the piece over and light the mark from a low angle with a lamp or phone torch, which throws the impressed or engraved lines into relief; a printed or painted mark wants soft, even light instead. Fill the frame with the mark, then take a second shot of the whole piece. Do not clean tarnish off silver before photographing; the mark reads better dark. The app matches the mark and shape to the notes above.
FAQ
What does the Samuel Kirk & Son mark look like?
Pieces are typically struck 'S. KIRK' or 'S.K.' in cartouches, later 'S. KIRK & SON' or 'S. KIRK & SONS' as sons joined the firm, sometimes alongside a Baltimore/Maryland assay mark and an ounce weight.
How do I date a Samuel Kirk & Son piece?
The exact wording of the mark ('S. KIRK' vs 'S. KIRK & SON' vs 'S. KIRK & SONS') corresponds to which family members were active partners in a given period, allowing rough dating by decade.
Does a mark prove the piece is genuine?
No. A mark is one piece of evidence; shape, weight, decoration, wear and construction have to agree with it. Marks are copied, and marked pieces are sometimes married to unmarked ones.
More in Pottery Marks and Silver Hallmarks
Related
See what your antiques are really worth.
Start with a single scan.
Have one? Scan it to see what it's worth.
Sources
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Kirk_(silversmith)
Compiled by the AntiqLens editorial team
Every fact on this page is taken from the sources listed above; numbers and prices are copied from the source, and prices name the guide or auction and its date. Research and drafting were assisted by AI, and each claim was then checked against the cited sources. Checked 2026-09-10. We do not buy, sell or grade items; the app identifies what you photograph and points you to these references.