Ladle
INSCRIPTION: None.
MARK: Struck on reverse of handle with incuse “JOHN B. AKIN” mark and unidentified incuse gothic letters (possibly “T U & H”) on reverse of bowl.
MAKER: John Brent Akin (1824-1871) was a retailer of silver, jewelry, and watches in Danville, Kentucky from 1856 until about 1861. He was born in Danville and after his Army service during the Mexican War he returned to Danville, practiced law, and served as the County Clerk for Boyle County (from Akin’s obituary in The Kentucky Advocate, 16 June 1871). In 1849 he married Ann Shelby Nichols (1828-1852) in Garrard County (“Kentucky, County Marriage Records, 1783-1965,” Garrard County, 1797-1861, 25 April 1849, p. 48 [image 40 of 608], available with subscription online: Ancestry.com). For at least two years he fulfilled the role secretary for the Central Kentucky Stock, Agricultural, and Mechanical Association (The Kentucky Tribune, 22 July 1853). Beginning in 1852 he engaged in a variety of activities as a merchant, offering goods from carriages to saddles, tobacco to sugar, and glassware to china (see The Kentucky Tribune, 13 June 1854, for examples of goods offered). After his wife Ann died in April 1853, Akin married Eliza E. Snail (1834-1909), late of Clay County, Missouri (“Kentucky, County Marriage Records, 1783-1965,” Boone [Boyle] County, 1852-1907, 6 December 1853, p. 2 [image 35 of 46], available with subscription online: Ancestry.com).
In June 1856 Akin first advertised a new business at the corner of Main and Second streets (nearly opposite the Branch Bank of Kentucky), offering watches, jewelry, and silver and plated wares (The Kentucky Tribune, 13 June 1856). In his advertisements he makes note that silversmith George Nichols (b.1822-1875), “well known to be an experienced workman,” would supervise the repair department in the shop. Akin’s store was frequently advertised over the following five years. Much of the surviving silver bearing Akin’s mark was manufactured by Peter L. Krider (w.c.1845-1895) or the partnership of Krider & Biddle (1858-c.1870) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Akin’s last known advertisement of his jewelery store was placed in February 1861, when he announced intent to reduce his stock (The Weekly Kentucky Tribune, 1 February 1861). In April 1864 he was still living in Danville but no mention was made of his jewelry store or any other type of business (The Weekly Kentucky Tribune, 8 April 1864). A year later it was reported that he had taken over management of the Capitol Hotel in Frankfort (The Frankfort Commonwealth, 14 April 1865). The 1870 United States Census recorded Akin as an attorney living in Danville. He died the following year.
FORM: Large silver ladles were popular for serving punch or soup. Most had plain hemispherical bowls, others were round, and a few had scalloped or shaped bowls. Smaller ladles of silver were most often designated for serving sauces and gravy.
