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A Few Notable Kentucky Coin Silversmiths: Asa Blanchard (Lexington)—Although one of the most prolific of the Kentucky silversmiths, Blanchard is by far the most sought after. He was active from about 1800 until his death in 1838. Blanchard was also a skillful clock and watchmaker. Examples of his work, both in silver and clocks, can be seen in museums, including the Speed Art Museum in Louisville and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Blanchard’s work in silver is stamped either “Blanchard”, “A Blanchard”, or simply “AB”.
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John Kitts (Louisville)—Another popular silversmith was John Kitts, who produced works under his own name, but also had partnerships with other Louisville silversmiths, including David Stoy. Items made under their partnership are marked “Kitts and Stoy” while most Coin Silver produced by Kitts alone is marked “John Kitts and Co.” Like Blanchard, Kitts was also a watchmaker and a prolific producer. As a result, many examples of his work are available. William P. and William A. Poindexter (Lexington)—William P. Poindexter is believed to have been an apprentice of Blanchard and became active in 1818. His son, William A. Poindexter, became a partner of his father about 1836. In addition to producing works for silver, the Poindexters were also jewelers and watch makers. George W McDannold (Mount Sterling and Covington)— McDannold is believed to have started working on West Main Street in Mount Sterling around 1829. Later, McDannold moved to Covington, where he worked as a silversmith, watchmaker, and jeweler. In later years he worked for the Cincinnati firm of E&D Kinsey. Eli C. Garner (Lexington)—Garner got his start as a silversmith while apprenticing for Blanchard. Upon Blanchard’s death in 1832, he bequeathed half of his silver tools to Garner. Around 1843, Garner formed a partnership with Daniel Winchester, a Baltimore silversmith who migrated to Lexington. Garner was also an excellent engraver.
1 A set of 6 Poindexter spoons. 2 A small ladle by J&C Snyder of Paris, and a Cream Ladle by E&D Kinsey. 3 A set of 3 Beakers or Juleps by Henry Hudson of Louisville, ca. 1841-1855. 4 A Julep cup and large ladle by Lexington’s legendary Asa Blanchard. 5 Beakers (later called Julep Cups) by George McDannold, John Kitts, and Eli Garner (left to right).
Although now out of print, the definitive resource on Kentucky silversmiths is Silversmiths of Kentucky, 1785-1900, by Mark Boultinghouse. It is a wonderful documentation of Kentucky silversmiths, broken down in a series of biographies of each known silversmith in alphabetical order. It is available on the secondary market in antique stores and rare book stores, or online. Jerry Shrout is the proprietor of Thoroughbred Antique Gallery in Lexington. He can be reached at 859-233-9375 or tagallery@windstream.net.
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