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Help with bright cut condiment spoon, possibly Irish
Help with bright cut condiment spoon, possibly Irish
Hi - please could anyone help say whether this unusual shaped condiment spoon is for James Keating. Certainly the right period and makers mark is a clear J.K, but the remaining marks are rubbed. Think I can see a crowned harp, might be a crowned V in the top of the three marks, but may be imagining it. Spoon is about the same size as a large salt spoon, but the bowl shape is different. Engraved with the initials A+A on the back of the bowl. Any help appreciated, even if it's to say I'm barking up the wrong tree. If it is Mr Keating - any background also appreciated. Thanks Frank
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Hi Frank,
The attribution of Irish maker's marks is often something of a lottery, although the records of the Dublin Goldsmiths Company are excellent, I suspect many Irish silversmiths were not too bothered about registering any new punches that they had made.
I believe there are two candidates for the maker of your spoon, James Keating and John Keene. The remaining marks on your spoon indicate a timeframe of 1793-1807, a period when both these smiths were working and both were thought to have made spoons.
James Keating registered with the Dublin office in 1795, his address at this time was noted as 2-3 Cole Alley, Castle Street. He was later to enter into a partnership with Richard Flood, trading under the name of James Keating & Co. He was probably the son of Michael Keating, who was noted as working from this same address.
John Keene registered at the Dublin office in 1784, obtained Freedom in 1789, elected 3rd Warden in 1797, 2nd Warden in 1798, 1st Warden in 1800 and Master in 1801 (I think, but will have to check, that during the years that he held these official positions, that he would not have been allowed to practice his trade), he was also elected to the Common Council of the City of Dublin in 1798. He was noted as working out of 67, Dame Street (North side). His son, also John Keene was apprenticed to him in 1802. He died in 1807.
The closest matches that I could find for your mark, indeed indicate that the maker would have been John Keene, Jackson has one attributed to Keene that is very similar, Bennett has a similar mark, but without the pellet. Keating used various marks, sometimes using an 'I', others with a 'J'.
Regards Trev.
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The attribution of Irish maker's marks is often something of a lottery, although the records of the Dublin Goldsmiths Company are excellent, I suspect many Irish silversmiths were not too bothered about registering any new punches that they had made.
I believe there are two candidates for the maker of your spoon, James Keating and John Keene. The remaining marks on your spoon indicate a timeframe of 1793-1807, a period when both these smiths were working and both were thought to have made spoons.
James Keating registered with the Dublin office in 1795, his address at this time was noted as 2-3 Cole Alley, Castle Street. He was later to enter into a partnership with Richard Flood, trading under the name of James Keating & Co. He was probably the son of Michael Keating, who was noted as working from this same address.
John Keene registered at the Dublin office in 1784, obtained Freedom in 1789, elected 3rd Warden in 1797, 2nd Warden in 1798, 1st Warden in 1800 and Master in 1801 (I think, but will have to check, that during the years that he held these official positions, that he would not have been allowed to practice his trade), he was also elected to the Common Council of the City of Dublin in 1798. He was noted as working out of 67, Dame Street (North side). His son, also John Keene was apprenticed to him in 1802. He died in 1807.
The closest matches that I could find for your mark, indeed indicate that the maker would have been John Keene, Jackson has one attributed to Keene that is very similar, Bennett has a similar mark, but without the pellet. Keating used various marks, sometimes using an 'I', others with a 'J'.
Regards Trev.
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Thanks Trev, very much appreciated. I must admit when I bought this spoon I didn't know it was Irish. I just loved the shape of the bowl. And knew it had some serious age. It is always pleasing to find an Irish piece in Durban where one sees so little Irish silver. And it goes well with the tongs you and your team helped me with last year.
John Keene sounds like a pillar of the Dublin community, who died way to young. He certainly made a very good little spoon.
Regards Frank
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John Keene sounds like a pillar of the Dublin community, who died way to young. He certainly made a very good little spoon.
Regards Frank
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