Maker: Samuel Kirk & Sons (1815-1979)
Objects: Asparagus Dish and Fork, Carroll County
Date: 1906
Medium: Sterling Silver
Dimensions: Dish: Overall height: 1 1/8”; Overall width: 14 3/8; Overall depth: 10 ¼”;
Dimensions: Fork: Overall length: 11 1/8”; Overall width: 3 ½”
Accession number(s): MSA SC 1545-0923-1 (dish) and MSA SC 1545-0923-2 (fork)
This asparagus dish represents Carroll County, the county named in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of Maryland’s four Signers of the Declaration of Independence who died in 1832. The county was formed from Baltimore and Frederick Counties in 1837. The Great Seal and the Cruiser are flanked with native trees and cornucopias of fruits and vegetables. Sprays of strawberries, blackberries, plums and vegetables surround the eagles on either side of the tray.
The handle of the fork is formed from a reproduction of a “crownstone” marker of the Mason-Dixon Line. These large limestone markers were placed every five miles along the Mason-Dixon Line, and were decorated with the coats-of-arms of Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Scenes across the top (left to right):
1. Blue Ridge College (number 124)
2. Great Seal of Maryland
3. Western Maryland College (number 121)
Scenes across the bottom (left to right)
1. Courthouse at Westminster (number 122)
2. USS Maryland Cruiser
3. First Rural Delivery Postal Service (number 123)