- Also known as
-
John Kirk
-
primary name: Kirk, John
- Details
- individual; sculptor/medallist; British; Male
- Life dates
- 1724-1776
- Address
- St Paul's Churchyard, London.
- Biography
- Medallist and gem-engraver. Studied under James Anthony Dassier (q.v.) and received premiums from the Society of Arts. Probably the son of the engraver and toyman John Kirk (who died in 1761, q.v.) and perhaps related to the engraver James Kirk (d.1791; q.v.)
Barrie Cook, note from exhibition label, "London 1753", 2003: John Kirk was by far the dominant figure in British coin weight production in the mid eighteenth century, producing several series of weights for the main currency coins, typically for the guinea and half-guinea and the two series of common Portuguese coins. He kept up to date with these, changing the portrait and name along with the change of monarch in 1750, when José I succeeded João V. His weights generally copy the coin on the obverse, very skilfully engraved, and spell out the value in sterling on the reverse."
- Bibliography
- L Forrer, 'Biographical dictionary of medallists, vol.3', London, 1907.
P Attwood, 'Acquisitions of medals (1983-1987)', British Museum Occasional Paper 78, London, 1991.
