Gorham No. 3 Aesthetic Cast Sterling Coffee Spoon

This sterling silver coffee spoon was made by Gorham c. 1890. It measures 4 3/4" long and weighs nearly .5 T. oz. which is quite heavy for a piece this size. It has a cast handle that portrays perhaps daisies or asters with leaves and stems. The die struck bowl also has a floral and leaf theme, but also incorporates a free-form scroll and swirl element as well. This is suggestive of an aesthetic influence at work in the overall design. The backside is plain save for the Gorham lion, anchor, G mark and the word "Sterling." The edges of the bowl, just before the slightly pointed tip, are engraved "Clarinda" and "Iowa" in small, block lettering, so this did duty as a souvenir spoon as well as its first purpose. The condition is flawless.