Essex Jewelry and Antiques

Antique 1824-1827 Early Kirk .917 Silver Grape Cluster Vine Repousse Mug Cup

$2,016.00

Presented is a superb quality early S. Kirk silver mug, dating to 1824-1827. The cup is beautifully hand chased around the body with a continuous band of grape cluster, leaf and vine decoration, very detailed and well done against a finely textured background. The cup has a single handle in an elegant double scroll form. Opposite the handle is an inscription, "George Winters." Samuel Kirk left his partnership with John Smith to work on his own in 1821, so this piece, dating only 3-6 years after that, is certainly a very early example of Kirk's solo work. As such it is a very rare and desirable item, and would make a great addition to any silver collection.

This piece is in great overall condition. There are a couple of tiny pinprick holes to the high points of the chasing and where a monogram prior to the existing monogram was removed, but these could easily be plugged with just a touch of solder if the cup is intended to hold liquids. The current monogram looks like there was another monogram originally in its place which was removed. The chased designs are quite crisp. There are no major dents and no repairs.

The underside of the piece is stamped with the S. Kirk maker's mark as well as the Baltimore silver assay mark guaranteeing 917 purity silver and the letter C, used 1824-1827.

The cup stands about 2 3/4 inches tall.

This piece weighs 176 grams or 6.2 regular ounces.

-jm