? Hall marks on coin sliver spoon

[berts451]

I would appreciate any help in identifying the hall marks on this 9 inch coin silver serving spoon.

[silverport]

Little server spoons in Europe are about 10 " long - normal ones about 12 " long.

Hello

Welcome to the Forum.

Sorry, that I couldn't answer on your main question; for lack of a guide of coin silver marks.

But the following is maybe usefully additional information?

For reason of today’s life style, and some other reason too, today's canteen are at least one to two inches shorter as in the history of the Western hemisphere.

Actually I haven't measuring of past time American cutlery - but as you know, many of the American producer, and the end user of their products, were self emigrants, or had European ancestors. So measuring of flatware was based on a common culture and customs.

In Europe were so called »soup spoon« at least 8 " long - also in time of economic decline; well, then they were made from very thin sheet material. But the minimum length remained untouched. Well, in relation to the pattern, especially by so called »rich« or "overdone" styled pattern, the length of a »soup spoon« were then until 9.5 " long.

The other spoon length', like e.g. »"breakfast", or "dessert" spoon« until the »salt spoon« were designed in relation to »soup spoon's« dimensions.

Sorry, maybe this brief explanation is boring you - but wait, maybe already in a short while you would get an answer on yours mark question.

Kind regards silverport

[berts451]

silverport-

Thanks for the information regarding length. I added the length to my description since a photo can't tell you whether it is a tea spoon, or bigger or smaller.

This spoon is a family item, and bears the initials BHK; for Benjamin Hewett Kissam of Cows Neck, Manhasset, Long Island, New York. He lived from 1753 to 1805. Since there is no name or initials for a silversmith on the spoon, I was hoping the hallmarks would tell me a little more about its origin.

berts

[silverly]

John W Hyatt and John Shepard were both jewelers at 31 Ann in New York City in 1827 which looks like it could be the correct time frame for the style that your spoon is. I really don't know if they had a formal partnership and used this mark. They're just a possibility.

Also, there is record of Benjamin Kissam marrying Martha Hewlett in Hempstead, New York in 1773. Could they have had a son with the name Benjamin Hewlett Kissam because I don't think the style of your spoon is quiet right for 1805 and earlier in America?

I apologize for getting in the middle of your family history research. It's just that provenance like yours is such an interesting part of the history of spoons like this.

The mark on your spoon is no doubt the initials its makers, manufacturers or even the retailers.

[wev]

The spoon's form is much later (c 1830 or so) than the death date of your ancestor.

[silverly]

I'm beginning to wonder if that's not "H," a star and an anchor. Oh well, I took a stab.

[berts451]

Benjamin had a son Benjamin 1784 to 1865, also of New York, so maybe he is the original owner.