Help: Unusual 1904 Cased "MK" w/ Elaborate Sterling Mount

[Humblepipe]

Greetings, Gents. I just acquired this interesting old soul from my good friend, Ahi Ka. It is an old Brit Wood. The only stampings are found on the sterling mount "MK" to the left of a hallmark; Anchor over Lion over "G". The case has no identification whatsoever. This is quite the mystery. Any assistance for identifying the maker or other bits of info much appreciated!

 

[verporchting]

What a beauty! I got nothing but, wow!

 

[mikethompson]

Wow!

Just send that to me for proper inspection, as the pictures are blurry and out of focus. Once I give you a specific maker / carving date / carving location / who harvested the briar, I will send it back you.

 

[sablebrush52]

No joy. Went through the several on line sites I consult, as well as Jackson's Hallmarks, and no MK for Birmingham show up. The year date, being a lowercase "G" is 1906-7.

 

[jguss]

Mila Kunis

 

[sablebrush52]

Mila Kunis

Isn't that outlawed in most states

 

[Humblepipe]

No joy. Went through the several on line sites I consult, as well as Jackson's Hallmarks, and no MK for Birmingham show up. The year date, being a lowercase "G" is 1906-7.

Thanks, Jesse. Nice to nail the date down.

 

[jguss]

Isn't that outlawed in most states

No, you’re thinking of the other MK, Mariah Karey.

 

[anotherbob]

maybe it's a repair job and the stamping is hidden under the beautiful metal I assume silver.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Thanks, Jesse. Nice to nail the date down.

I think the “G” is actually an “e”. I could be wrong, I don’t have a picture on me anymore sorry and it was the smallest hallmarking I had seen.

@ashdigger didn’t have anything other than “here’s a cool old pipe bro”

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Mila Kunis

"shut up, jguss!"

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Beautiful yacht/zulu. But I think the sliver is a repair. It looks like the bit once had a threaded tenon.

 

[condorlover1]

Looks like a very professional silver repair job. I have several meerschaum 'cutty' pipes that have had similar work done on them. I can post pictures as a comparison if that is of any help.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

If it is a repair and I suspect it is, it's a testament to how much this pipes original owner loved it. They could have easily replaced the broken pipe for far less money than it would have taken to repair this one. But he didn't, he loved it so much that he spent easily twice what new pipe would have cost to save this one. The silver work is very well executed and only adds to the pipes appeal. I don't think you're gonna have much luck assigning a maker to the pipe without removing the silver work though. Which I would not do under any circumstances.

 

[Humblepipe]

Here are some close-ups of the hallmarks:

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Perhaps, the silversmith is Michael Keating? I believe his work might be known for earlier than this pipe, but, maybe the part for the repair was done by him.

MK (Michael Keating) Spoon with strange engraving? Help Identification - www.925-1000.com

Antique Silver Hallmark Identification Forums

www.925-1000.com

 

[Humblepipe]

Perhaps, the silversmith is Michael Keating? I believe his work might be known for earlier than this pipe, but, maybe the part for the repair was done by him.

MK (Michael Keating) Spoon with strange engraving? Help Identification - www.925-1000.com

Antique Silver Hallmark Identification Forums

www.925-1000.com

Interesting... Apparently Michael Keating had a son, Michael Keating II. I think he may be a candidate (see below)? If he registered is a Silversmith when he was in his 20s...

 

[jguss]

I think Keating unlikely given that he was active a century before this band was made and that his work was hallmarked to reflect his Irish location.

I know of several MK silver hallmarks but all are London, not Birmingham, and none (as far as I can tell) were pipe mounters.

On balance I think it more likely an English silversmith would be registered in London and Birmingham than an Irish silversmith would be registered in Dublin and Birmingham. But that’s a judgement based on limited data, not a statistical analysis.

A clear closeup photo of the hallmarks may not help but it wouldn’t hurt either.

 

[Humblepipe]

How about his son?

 

[Humblepipe]

Some super tiny hallmarks. Here are some additional photos. Not sure if they are helpful...