A native of Baltimore, Charles C. Stieff (1862 – 1923) founded The Stieff Co., sterling silver manufacturers, in 1892. His his only son Gideon N. Stieff joined the company and became its president in 1914, when his father relinquished the presidency of his firm.

On May 26, 1923, Charles C. Stieff, one of Baltimore’s most prominent businessmen, died suddenly at his desk in the Stieff Building at 17 N. Liberty St. He was 61 years old and died of heart disease.

Company records describe Stiff as “a natural leader who left behind him a legacy of positive action for American silver.” He was instrumental in enforcing the Maryland Silver Standards, which required all sterling silver to be at least 92.5 fine.

Stiff was a man whose principles called for hard work coupled with superior products that were affordable to all. And for him, advertising was the best way to reach his audience. Notably, Stiff placed an ad in the very first issue of the Baltimore Sunday Sun.

Thanks to his son Gideon, who took over management in 1914, expansion began, first at the production level and then to a nationwide retail campaign. One of Stieff’s greatest successes was a partnership with Williamsburg in 1939, which offered reproductions of Colonial Williamsburg.

In 1951, Stieff began producing 18th-century reproductions in pewter. And in 1970, Stieff bought Colonial Miniatures, a company that produced miniatures.

Stieff Fine Sterling Company History

Stieff had long gone its own way and remained privately owned. The company began actively looking to buy smaller companies before merging with Kirk. In 1967, Stieff bought Scofield Company, a local sterling manufacturer that was about to go out of business. In 1979, 164 years after its founding, Samuel Kirk and Son merged with Stieff, another Baltimore manufacturer.

Thus, the production of Kirk and Stieff was combined in the Stieff factory. Accordingly, the Kirk Stieff logo replaced the Samuel Kirk and Son logo. It is important for collectors to remember that all products made before 1980 bear the imprint of individual companies. Sterling silver cutlery made after 1980 included “Kirk Stieff’ mark.

However, after ten years of joint production, Kirk and Stieff ceased to exist independently. The new owner since 1990 has been Brown-Forman of Louisville, Kentucky, a private company that sold Jack Daniel’s whiskey, Canadian Mist and Southern Comfort liqueur.

Antique and Vintage Jewelry by Stieff