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Hello, this is the set of hallmarks on a Dublin “soup” ladle (32 centimetres long) that I recently acquired. The marks lack a duty mark so must be prior to 1807 and although rubbed I believe there is a date letter A for 1797 with possible maker mark “J.K”, maybe James Keating (or A.N.Other). On the Forum, there seems to be a little confusion about Dublin J.K’s / I.K's around that late 18th century period. I think my ladle’s rubbed mark may not shine a lot more light on the situation though.



Obviously, I see the maker’s mark as “J.K“, and I think it is another example of the “J.K” mark pictured on silvermakersmarks website and noted as of an unknown maker and “Seen with an undated hallmark in the style used 1797 to 1806”, and on a spoon. Phil’s, silvermakersmarks website has a different J.K mark for 1795-1776 and also a no pellet JK for 1800-1802 but indicates James Keating had working dates 1795-1819.



In a reply to similar query to the Forum, about a “J.K” mark (other hallmarks worn), another name was brought up.

“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.”

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Are we able to tease anything more concrete about the maker of my soup ladle?

Fishless

Given the width of this J . K mark, the gaps between the dot and the letters, size of dot and what appears to be remnants of indentations at edges, I think this is a very worn example of James Keating's serrated rectangular maker's mark. It is no. 123 in Bennett's Irish Georgian Silver, page 343 and in Bennett's Collecting Irish Silver, page 168. Date of spoon 1797.

James Keating was a well known Dublin spoon maker.

Thank you Scorpio for your comments. My experience with Dublin silver is slight and I think this ladle increased my Dublin collection by 25%. You have suggested it is a worn example of the "rippled" edge cartouche mark and I have looked again with my lens but do think it is that version of James Keating's marks. I have photoed the mark again using the lens.



There are places on the cartouche that are irregular but the vertical edges are straight, particularly so around the "K", and also along the "K's" base.

Fishless