Need ID Help Sterling Lorgnette Hallmark
Need ID Help Sterling Lorgnette Hallmark
I am new to the forums, but have used this site's references for quite some time now, and this is the first one that I have not been able to ID so far. The stamp is on the inside of the Lorgnette, and was quite difficult to find, but I cannot find it in any American Silversmith's guides anywhere. This is the only hallmark anywhere on the piece. Any help would be truly appreciated, as this has me kind of frazzled.
Re: Need ID Help Sterling Lorgnette Hallmark
Hi Digicthus,
Welcome to the Forum.
H.A. Kirby seems a likely candidate. Although the below advertisement is for gold jewellery, Rainwater states that they were also a retailer of silverware.
H.A. Kirby - Providence, R.I. - 1908
Trev.
Welcome to the Forum.
H.A. Kirby seems a likely candidate. Although the below advertisement is for gold jewellery, Rainwater states that they were also a retailer of silverware.
H.A. Kirby - Providence, R.I. - 1908
Trev.
Re: Need ID Help Sterling Lorgnette Hallmark
Wow! That was fast! Thank you dognose! I have been searching for quite some time now on that particular mark, and I was starting to think it was a lost cause.
I'm prone to agree with your diagnosis after finding a few of the gold pieces online, even though the pics I have seen have a solid circle around the Iron/Spanish cross where the one I have is broken/dotted, it's close enough for me.
It seems that H.A. Kirby did make lorgnettes in both gold and silver, although, I cannot find any pics of the hallmark on the lorgnettes stating to be Kirby pieces, but it seems to be of similar style and crafting.
Thank you again for the quick info. By the way, what/who is Rainwater?
-Adam-
I'm prone to agree with your diagnosis after finding a few of the gold pieces online, even though the pics I have seen have a solid circle around the Iron/Spanish cross where the one I have is broken/dotted, it's close enough for me.
It seems that H.A. Kirby did make lorgnettes in both gold and silver, although, I cannot find any pics of the hallmark on the lorgnettes stating to be Kirby pieces, but it seems to be of similar style and crafting.
Thank you again for the quick info. By the way, what/who is Rainwater?
-Adam-
Re: Need ID Help Sterling Lorgnette Hallmark
Hi Adam,
Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by Dorothy T. Rainwater and Judy Redfield. The revised fourth edition is apparently the best one to get.
Trev.
Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by Dorothy T. Rainwater and Judy Redfield. The revised fourth edition is apparently the best one to get.
Trev.
Re: Need ID Help Sterling Lorgnette Hallmark
DEATH OF HENRY A. KIRBY
Providence Jewelry Manufacturer Succumbs to an Attack of Typhoid Fever
Providence, R. I., April 17.–Henry A. Kirby, for 35 years head of the house of H. A. Kirby, manufacturer of diamond jewelry in gold and platinum, at 85 Sprague St., this city, died last Monday at his home, 1292 Westminster St., this city, following an illness of about four weeks, from typhoid fever, believed to have been contracted while on a visit in the south, where he had been spending the Winter. He was 58 years old.
Born at Huntington, Long Island, N. Y., March 3, 1862, Henry Arra Kirby was the son of the late Isaac B. and Mary (Cornell) Kirby. The family removed to Providence while he was a small boy and his education was received in the public schools of this city and he was a graduate of the Providence High School. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Tilden-Thurber Company, for whom he later became bookkeeper.
In November, 1886, with Delmont E. Mowry, who had been with the old firm of McKinney, Smith & Co., as a diamond expert. Mr. Kirby organized the manufacturing jewelry firm of Kirby, Mowry & Co. at 107 Friendship St., but in April, 1887, removed to 117 Harrison St. This concern was dissolved in September, 1898, Mr. Kirby purchasing the entire business which he incorporated as the H. A. Kirby Co. under the laws of Rhode Island, with an authorized capital of $150,000 which was subsequently increased to $300,000. The incorporators, besides Mr. Kirby, were his father-in-law, the late Charles H. Perkins, and Archibald Rutherford of New York. This corporation was dissolved in March, 1906, Messrs. Perkins and Rutherford withdrawing, and Mr. Kirby became the head of the establishment.
Shortly after its incorporation the plant was removed to 85 Sprague St., this city, while a New York office was maintained in Maiden Lane for many years. For several years Mr. Kirby also conducted the "Grant Jewelry Co.," which was a firm style for the selling of certain lines of goods produced by this concern. He was also, at one time, interested in the Allendale Worsted Mills, at Allendale, R. I.
Mr. Kirby is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ada L. (Perkins) Kirby and two daughters, Mrs. Alexander R. Fritz of this city and Mrs. Darius Goff of Pawtucket; also by his two brothers, Isaac B. Kirby, a newspaper correspondent of this city, and George J. Kirby, of George J. Kirby & Co., manufacturers of optical goods at Willimantic, Conn., and a sister, Miss May I. Kirby, also of this city.
Always actively interested in out-door sports, Mr. Kirby was for many years a prominent member of the Narragansett Boat Club of this city, and held high rank as an amateur oarsman, not only as an individual sculler, but as a member of the famous 'Gansett eight that won national honors in the early 80's. He won the Mayor O'Brien single scull cup on the Charles River, Cambridge, Mass., in 1881, defeating Frank E. Holmes, the then national champion.
He was a member of the Rhode Island Country Club, the Wannamoisett Country Club, and had a beautiful country residence at Warwick Neck, Warwick, overlooking Narragansett Bay, where he spent his Summers.
He was a member of Grace Church (Episcopal) in this city.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 21st April 1920
As can be seen from the above report, Henry's brother, George, ran an optical company that earlier was also located at Providence. Perhaps this was the source.
George J. Kirby & Co. - Providence, R.I. - 1900
H.A. Kirby Co. - Providence, R.I. - 1900
Trev.
Providence Jewelry Manufacturer Succumbs to an Attack of Typhoid Fever
Providence, R. I., April 17.–Henry A. Kirby, for 35 years head of the house of H. A. Kirby, manufacturer of diamond jewelry in gold and platinum, at 85 Sprague St., this city, died last Monday at his home, 1292 Westminster St., this city, following an illness of about four weeks, from typhoid fever, believed to have been contracted while on a visit in the south, where he had been spending the Winter. He was 58 years old.
Born at Huntington, Long Island, N. Y., March 3, 1862, Henry Arra Kirby was the son of the late Isaac B. and Mary (Cornell) Kirby. The family removed to Providence while he was a small boy and his education was received in the public schools of this city and he was a graduate of the Providence High School. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Tilden-Thurber Company, for whom he later became bookkeeper.
In November, 1886, with Delmont E. Mowry, who had been with the old firm of McKinney, Smith & Co., as a diamond expert. Mr. Kirby organized the manufacturing jewelry firm of Kirby, Mowry & Co. at 107 Friendship St., but in April, 1887, removed to 117 Harrison St. This concern was dissolved in September, 1898, Mr. Kirby purchasing the entire business which he incorporated as the H. A. Kirby Co. under the laws of Rhode Island, with an authorized capital of $150,000 which was subsequently increased to $300,000. The incorporators, besides Mr. Kirby, were his father-in-law, the late Charles H. Perkins, and Archibald Rutherford of New York. This corporation was dissolved in March, 1906, Messrs. Perkins and Rutherford withdrawing, and Mr. Kirby became the head of the establishment.
Shortly after its incorporation the plant was removed to 85 Sprague St., this city, while a New York office was maintained in Maiden Lane for many years. For several years Mr. Kirby also conducted the "Grant Jewelry Co.," which was a firm style for the selling of certain lines of goods produced by this concern. He was also, at one time, interested in the Allendale Worsted Mills, at Allendale, R. I.
Mr. Kirby is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ada L. (Perkins) Kirby and two daughters, Mrs. Alexander R. Fritz of this city and Mrs. Darius Goff of Pawtucket; also by his two brothers, Isaac B. Kirby, a newspaper correspondent of this city, and George J. Kirby, of George J. Kirby & Co., manufacturers of optical goods at Willimantic, Conn., and a sister, Miss May I. Kirby, also of this city.
Always actively interested in out-door sports, Mr. Kirby was for many years a prominent member of the Narragansett Boat Club of this city, and held high rank as an amateur oarsman, not only as an individual sculler, but as a member of the famous 'Gansett eight that won national honors in the early 80's. He won the Mayor O'Brien single scull cup on the Charles River, Cambridge, Mass., in 1881, defeating Frank E. Holmes, the then national champion.
He was a member of the Rhode Island Country Club, the Wannamoisett Country Club, and had a beautiful country residence at Warwick Neck, Warwick, overlooking Narragansett Bay, where he spent his Summers.
He was a member of Grace Church (Episcopal) in this city.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 21st April 1920
As can be seen from the above report, Henry's brother, George, ran an optical company that earlier was also located at Providence. Perhaps this was the source.
George J. Kirby & Co. - Providence, R.I. - 1900
H.A. Kirby Co. - Providence, R.I. - 1900
Trev.