www.925-1000.com

this is a puzzler and I have run out of research .. it is marked only ..mk .. it is solid silver tests red chemically .. coin or sterling .. scalloped bowl in raised relief .. chased in hand engraved decorations ..... late 1800S .. helppp .. can not find hallmark listed ..thanks in advance...tim...
.

I have a Matthew Kennedy - Phila. PA. - 1825.
3b
.

I suspect it is 18th cent. English or Irish. Do you have anything to support its American origins?

Regards, Tom
.

I thought I had left a post about this, but I must not have clicked the send button.

I too, think, it is of Irish descent. The maker's mark is consistent with that of Michael Keating, who was a Dublin maker in the 1780s-1790's. The bright cut feathering and shell bowl are also consistent with a number of pieces I have seen of his work that fall within that time period (a google of his name will produce several listings of his silver with several ladles of similar style).

I have recently acquired a spoon with the same maker's mark, and all of the other marks very worn, so I have checked Jackson's and Grimwade's for English makers, and did not find any with a MK mark with a pellet in between.
.

Michael Keatings mark had a pellet between from 1792 and 1854 but the shape of the stamp was different inasmuch as it appeared as two boxes conjoined. I think, as there is nothing else that equates with the mark that we have to accept that it is his work. The style, as we are told, is so similar to his that it is acceptable to believe he was the maker as there is no-one else of the period with a similar initial.
Best wishes, Mike.
.