IK - John Kavanagh? 1787 fork

[mk209]

Just wanted to confirm is this John Kavanagh’s mark on this 1787 fork? It’s a really great example that I’ve not come across before so I was very happy to get this.




Matt

[silvermakersmarks]

In "Collecting Irish Silver" Douglas Bennett gives 3 possibilities for this mark: John Kavanagh (1783-1819), John Kelly (1780-94) or James Kennedy (1768-1803). As you can see from their working dates all 3 are candidates for your 1787 fork.

Phil

[mk209]

Thanks Phil, I guess it comes down to what the silversmith was mostly making to try to narrow the field. I think James Kennedy specialised in boxes and the likes if I remember correctly?

[scorpio]

While most silversmiths made a bit of everything, James Kennedy is said to have been a box specialist but on those he used I.K (I have a couple of his snuff boxes) so while Bennett lists him under IK as well, I'm not sure of the reason for this. Auctioneers often incorrectly attribute snuff boxes with I.K to James Keating but he appears to have been more involved in making tableware.

In Jackson's Silver & Gold Marks, John Kelly's IK mark is noted against table spoons while John Kavanagh is not mentioned at all (far as I can find) but that doesn't mean this IK mark on the fork is John Kelly's and not John Kavanagh's.

Intriguingly, Jackson mentions another maker who also used IK and that was John Kenzie. His name and mark appear on a plate of pewter preserved at the Dublin Assay Office, displaying marks used from about 1765 to 1812, but I know nothing else of him or what he made.

[scorpio]

Correction: My text should read James Kenzie not John Kenzie. The IK mark shown for him is similar to that shown as used by Kelly & Kavanagh.

[mk209]

Interesting, not heard of James Kenzie before. I seem to be finding other items marked IK that I cannot attribute too, it’s a popular set of initials. I will hunt out that book at some point.

Thanks for the info.