Lot 828

Samuel Kirk Coin Silver Tankard, Marked S.K., Baltimore, ca. 1815-46

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Lot 828
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Samuel Kirk Coin Silver Tankard, Marked S.K., Baltimore, ca. 1815-46
Samuel Kirk Coin Silver Tankard, Marked S.K., Baltimore, ca. 1815-46
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Samuel Kirk Coin Silver Tankard, Marked S.K., Baltimore, ca. 1815-46

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500

Starting Bid: $450

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
July 30, 2026 8:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Samuel Kirk (American, 1793-1872). Silver mug or tankard, ca. 1815 to 1846 CE. Marked "S.K." and "11/12" on underside of base. The vessel is formed with tapering cylindrical walls, rising from a stepped foot to a slightly everted rim, with a cast scroll handle with a feathered thumbpiece. The body is largely unadorned, with visible hand-finished marks and light wear consistent with age and use. Size: 4" L x 2.9" W x 3.3" H (10.2 cm x 7.4 cm x 8.4 cm); silver quality: 92.9%; weight: 198.8 grams

To one side, the initials "JBM" are finely engraved in a flowing hand, likely those of the original owner, lending the piece a personal and historical intimacy while anchoring it within the rituals of early 19th century domestic life.

On the underside, the piece is struck with the early "S.K." maker's mark, notably double struck or slipped, causing the initials to blur into an almost three-letter impression - a small but telling trace of the hand at work. Accompanying this is the "11/12" purity mark, indicating a silver content of approximately 92.9%, consistent with the high-grade coin silver standard employed by Kirk in this early period, often derived from refined foreign coinage.

This tankard belongs to the formative years of Samuel Kirk's Baltimore workshop, before the full flourishing of his repousse style, and reflects a transitional aesthetic - one rooted in Federal simplicity yet moving toward the richer decorative language that would later define his legacy. It stands as both a functional drinking vessel and a document of early American silver craftsmanship, where material, form, and maker converge with quiet confidence.

Samuel Kirk (American, 1793-1872) was a pioneering Baltimore silversmith who transformed American silver through his introduction of repousse decoration, a richly chased floral style that became synonymous with "Baltimore Silver." Trained in Philadelphia and active in Baltimore from the early 19th century, he built a lasting family enterprise under S. Kirk and Son, later S. Kirk and Sons, producing finely worked coin silver and, eventually, sterling wares. His workshop supplied notable commissions for figures such as General Lafayette and President James Monroe, and his legacy endures in major museum collections and in the continued influence of his ornamental techniques.

Publication: A silver cann by Samuel Kirk with a similar handle can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 26.279.1.

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection

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Item # 201964

  • Condition: Some very light surface wear with a few minor indentations, but, otherwise, intact and excellent. Marked "S.K." (notably double struck or slipped, causing the initials to blur into an almost three-letter impression) for Samuel Kirk and "11/12" for silver purity on underside of base.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000