Father’s Day is a good time to remember that many design firms of the 19th and 20th centuries were family businesses. Some of the most famous glassmakers, ceramicists and metalsmiths followed their fathers into business, and many famous company names end in “and Sons.”
This coin silver coffee pot, which sold for $1,860 at an auction by Leland Little, was made by S. Kirk & Son of Baltimore, one of the best-known American silversmiths. Samuel Kirk opened his first silver store in 1815. He started partnering with his sons in 1846; the company was known as S. Kirk & Son from 1846 to 1861 and S. Kirk & Sons from 1861 to 1868. The firm was known for its coin silver.
Samuel Kirk introduced hand-hammered repousse designs to America. His decoration style, with allover designs like landscapes, flowers or architecture in low relief, is still known as Baltimore silver. After his death in 1872, his son and grandson continued the company. The name changed to S. Kirk & Son Co. in 1896. The company was bought by the Stieff Company in 1979, and Kirk Stieff, as it is now known, is still active today.
Q: I have items from Japan and China, pre-WWII, collected by a missionary and sent home. There are linens, a watercolor from 1928, two matching small handpainted bottles, a small brass box similar to a jewelry box, old postcards, photos, etc. I would like to know if they have any value or possible interest from collectors.
A: Yes, there is plenty of collector interest in the kinds of items you mentioned. They sell at general antiques auctions and shops, so you may want to look for a shop in your area or auction that deals in Asian art. You may also want to find a specialist for the postcards and photos. If you are planning to sell the items, you may want to seek a professional appraisal. You can find a qualified appraiser through the American Society of Appraisers (www.appraisers.org), the International Society of Appraisers (www.isa-appraisers. org) or the Appraisers Association of America (www. appraisersassociation.org). If you have any documentation of the item’s provenance, it will increase the value.
TIP: When you open your windows, watch out for blowing curtains. They may hit glass or china displayed nearby and cause damage.
CURRENT PRICES
Glass, blown, bowl, light aqua, overall lattice, folded rim, bubbles, pontil, molded, 4 x 12 1/2 inches, $60.
Toy, train car, Marklin, locomotive, green, SE800, die cast, electric, HO gauge, box, c. 1950, 6 inches, $450.
Fenton, planter, Pachyderm, figural, elephant, head lowered, green, uranium glass, c. 1927, 7 x 9 x 4 inches, $660.
Clock, advertising, Borden’s Ice Cream, round, glass front, Elsie with flowers, blue ground, lights up, tin sign above, c. 1950, 21 x 15 inches, $1,070.
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