THE DIRECTORY OF CANADA SILVERSMITHS
MARKS AND HALLMARKS OF CANADIAN SILVER


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CANADA SILVERSMITHS - ALPHABETICAL LISTING: K


There was no official regulation of the purity of the metal used in the industry in Canada until the early 20th century.
After 1760 Montreal gradually took over as the center of silversmithing in Canada although there were also a number of silversmiths in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces. English styles became the norm and silversmiths began to use English-style maker's marks with their initials in a rectangular outline. These marks were occasionally accompanied by "Montreal", "Quebec" or "H", "HN" or "HNS" for Halifax.
Benjamin Etter, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada F.S. QUEBEC F.S mark, Francois Sasseville, Quebec 1797-1864
By the early 19th century it was common to include pseudo marks that resembled British hallmarks, like sovereign's heads, lions, crowns.
F.M. and English pseudo-hallmarks mark, Franz F. Meyer, Halifax - Nova Scotia 1809-1847 IM NB and English pseudo hallmarks mark, John Munro, New Glasgow - New Brunswick 1813-1864
The current Canadian hallmarking system is based on the Precious Metals Marking Act of 1985. Jewellery makers, importers and retailers are responsible for having the correct hallmarks on items. Hallmarks must be registered by the Register of Trademarks, Industry Canada in which abbreviations and inscriptions for jewellery items in either English or French are permitted.
For silver items, "sterling" (92.5% silver and 7.5% other alloys ) is considered the standard measurement for purity under federal regulations. Authentic sterling silver items are stamped with "STERLING", "STER", or "925". Hallmarks that follow the traditional British certifying system or has applied by the government of any foreign country under the laws of that country may also be placed on the item.
Where an article that is wholly manufactured in Canada is composed of a precious metal of a quality prescribed in the regulations and has an authorized quality mark applied to it, there may be applied to the article a national mark consisting of:
- a lion's head inside a letter "C"( (1934-1978)
- a maple head inside a letter "C" (after 1978)
Canada National mark 1934-1978 Canada National mark after 1978

(click on the photo to enlarge image)


SILVERSMITH'S NAME
MARK - TOWN - DATE
KEARNEY W.H.
 W.H.KEARNEY
Toronto, Ontario
c. 1880s
Touch mark acquired by Henry Birks & Sons
KENT & SONS LTD, Ambrose
Ambrose Kent & Sons Ltd - Toronto, Canada Ambrose Kent & Sons Ltd - Toronto, Canada		 squirrel K and lion in three squares and STERLING
Toronto, Ontario
established in 1867 as Kent Bros (presumably by Ambrose and Benjamin Kent). The business (168 Yonge St, Toronto) was closed in c. 1894 and reopened shortly after as Ambrose Kent & Sons in new premises at 156 Yonge St. and 587 Richmond W, Toronto. By 1900 the firm was listed as a "Ltd" manufacturing jewelers company, with William G. Kent as Vice President and Treasurer and F.A. Kent as General Manager. They merged with Fairweather Ltd in 1946 and became Kent-Fairweather Ltd (Fairweather Ltd c.1953 when Kent sold out)
KENT Ambrose & Son
 A.K. & S.
Toronto, Ontario
c. 1890s
Touch mark acquired by Henry Birks & Sons
KENT BROTHERS
 Kent Bros., Toronto, Ontario, Canada		 KENT BROS. and pseudo English hallmarks
Toronto, Ontario
c. 1860s/1880s
Touch mark acquired by Henry Birks & Sons
KERR & THORNE
Kerr & Torne - Saint John, New Brunswick - Canada		 KERR & THORNE
K.T in a rectangle
K&T and English preudo-hallmarks
Saint John, New Brunswick, c. 1870s/1880s
Hardware merchants. Partnership dissolved in 1885. Believed to have had silver made for them by Hendery & Leslie
Touch mark acquired by Henry Birks & Sons
KIRK W.H.
 W.H.KIRK
Toronto, Ontario
c. 1880s
Touch mark acquired by Henry Birks & Sons



HALLMARKS OF ENGLISH SILVER - MAKER'S MARK IDENTIFICATION
ALPHABETICAL LISTING
OF SILVERSMITHS' NAMES		 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
THE DIRECTORY OF CAPE SILVERSMITHS A - C D - I J - M N - T U - Z
THE DIRECTORY OF CHANNEL ISLANDS SILVERSMITHS A - F G - H I - P Q - Z unidentified makers
AUSTRALIAN SILVERSMITHS A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z NOT IDENTIFIED
BRITISH TOWN MARKS AND DATE LETTERS

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