Catalog: Souvenirs: Spoons

This sterling silver souvenir spoon is replete with provenance. It was made by Dominick & Haff, whose three part emblem and the word "Sterling" appear on the backside. The theme is the "Chicago Fire" of 1871, and appropriately enough the retailer was Chicago's "C.D. Peacock" whose name appears alongside the manufacturer's mark and the words "Pat'd. '91."

It is inscribed on the reverse "Jerome Orrell Eddy," "May 12/91," whose birthday was this date...

A souvenir spoon that features the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, this 5 7/8" long, .9 T. oz., piece features the added element of the "Lincoln & Douglas Memorial" in Freeport, Illinois. The engraved representation of this stone marker is flanked by engraved busts of Lincoln and Douglas.

Made by Watson, whose Mechanics pennant emblem appears on the reverse, along with the word "Sterling," it exhibits the artful die work and fine finishing that characterized this company's output...

One from Watson's early 20th century Art Nouveau floral line, this motif is not as readily found as other designs in the series.

This example is a 5 1/2" long, just over .7 T. oz., teaspoon. As is the case for all of Watson's work of this sort, the die and finish work reflect a high level of refinement. The pattern is set in very high relief and precisely rendered, incorporating fine detail...

Watson produced an extensive line of fruit, floral, and even vegetable patterns around the turn of the 20th century that were exceptionally finely rendered and reflected Art Nouveau sensibilities.

An example from that series, this 6 1/8" long, heavy at nearly 1.2 T. oz., spoon has an elongated and pointed bowl and is probably for citrus.

The motif is grape, showing a large cluster of high relief fruit surrounded by leaves and sinuous vines...

One of a floral series produced by Reed & Barton, this teaspoon measures 5 5/8" long and weighs .7 T. oz. It features enamel pale yellow enameled rose on the handle end. This is subtly executed, with shading on the petals, and a pink blush center to the blossom. The green stem and leaves are likewise shaded and incorporate surface detail...

Made by Watson, whose Mechanics pennant emblem appears of the backside along with the word "Sterling," this early 20th century, 5 1/2" long, .7 T. oz., "Minnesota" souvenir spoon has an engraved bowl that portrays the "Pillsbury Acadamy" in Owatonna...

E.A. Whitney of Boston is known for its production of historical theme souvenir spoons, many related to the American Civil War, which is the case with this 5 7/8" long, heavy at just over 1.1 T. oz., example.

The subject is "Sheridan's Ride," an event that became the basis of a poem, and significant enough that the general's horse was preserved by a taxidermist and remains at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C...

No more exquisite example of engraving on silver is to be found than this piece made by Gorham.

It is a 5 7/8" long, .9 T. oz., teaspoon in the "Buttercup" pattern, marked with the Gorham "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," "Patent 1902," and the date symbol for "1902" on the heel of the bowl. It is also engraved "'02" in script on the backside of the handle...

Syracuse's Joseph Seymour's pattern flatware is well-documented and the inventory does not include the "Thistle" design on this 5 1/2" long, just touching 1.0 T. oz., teaspoon. It is thereby an unexpected rarity, and doubly so because of its impressively artful portraiture.

The design, die work, and finish are all to the highest standard. There is a central thistle blossom midway on the handle, and a pair at the tip, all surrounded by leaves...

One of a limited, numbered series, Gorham's "H 409" portrays what appears to be a thistle midway on the stem, with a second flower on the terminus...

Measuring 5 13/16" long and weighing just under 1.1 T. oz., this teaspoon is marked with an "H" in a diamond, which is a Gorham designation for "heavy." Other marks are the company "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Pat. Mar. 20. 1894."

It is a Zodiac spoon for the month of December. The sign is "Capricornus," the sea-goat, more commonly identified as "Capricorn," whose image appears on the handle. Other decorative elements include holly leaves and berries tumbling into the handle...

More characteristically thought of as citrus or grapefruit spoons, catalogs of a century or more ago commonly identified this form as an orange spoon.

These two examples were produced by Watson and may be one each, orange and grapefruit spoon. They vary in size, the larger measuring 6" long and weighing just under 1.0 T. oz., while the smaller one is 5 5/8" long and weighs just under .7 T. oz. The variance may be an indicator of use.

They have similar, high relief, intricately detailed,...

Made by Watson, whose pennant emblem and the word "Sterling" appears on the backside, this spoon measures 5 13/16" long and is weighty at just over 1.0 T. oz.

A "Mississippi" souvenir piece, it is replete with iconography. Images include an eagle with shield, "Jeff Davis/Old Home," the "State Capitol," "Shirley House," and the "Surrender Monument," and corn stalks.

It also has an unusual bowl surface. In addition to a gold wash surface front and back, it shows a colored portraiture of ...

The early 20th century witnessed a burst of interest in zodiac signs among silver manufacturers. Gorham is the firm that seemed to have capitalized most fully in this trend, but other producers offered entries as well.

Watson was among them and this 5 7/8" long, just under 1.0 T. oz. teaspoon is an example of that company's output.

The sign is "Gemini," as identified in the upper right hand edge of the front. The twins are portrayed as a pair of cherubs, one standing and one sitting in...

This 5 5/8" long, weighty, 1.1 T. oz., sterling silver souvenir spoon portrays a number of images connected with the Civil War "Battle of Lookout Mountain."

The center of the handle features a number of soldiers climbing a hillside slope. The end of the handle shows a bust of "Joseph Hooker," the general in command of the operation. The lower portion of the handle reads, "Lookout Mt., Battle Above the Clouds, Nov. 24, 1863." The bowl shows a panorama of the mountain "from the Tennessee Ri...

Portraying a bust on the handle and a mounted image for the French King and Roman Catholic Saint for whom the City of Saint Louis was named, this spoon was retailed by that city's premier jeweler, "Mermod-Jaccard & King Co." (1905 forward), as marked on the reverse, along with the word "Sterling."

This is a superbly crafted item. The imagery portrays a youthful king wearing a crown and with his shoulders draped in a clasped cloak. His look is wistful, suggesting his eyes are set on a futur...