Souvenir spoon

1900-1930

Place madeProvidence, Rhode Island, United States, North America

andNew York, New York

Silver

Overall: 4 1/4 x 7/8 x 3/4 in. ( 10.8 x 2.2 x 1.9 cm )

INV.13997

In the 1890s and early years of the twentieth century thousands of souvenir spoons were made by dozens of United States manufacturers. Gorham, the largest manufacturer of sterling flatwares in the U.S. at the turn of the century, dominated the souvenir spoon market almost from the beginning. (See Charles H. Carpenter, Jr., "Gorham Silver, 1831-1981," pp. 180-199.)

DescriptionCast silver souvenir spoon with the old Cape Florida Light on inside of pointed oval bowl and profile bust of Osceola, Chief of the Seminoles, on the reverse; straight, narrow handle with angled end and relief inscriptions on obverse and reverse; stamped maker's mark on side of handle.

Markingsin relief: on inside of bowl: "THE OLD / CAPE FLORIDA LIGHT" in relief: on on obverse of handle: "Miami Biscayne Bay Florida" in relief: on back of bowl: "OSCEOLA" in relief: on reverse of handle: "Seminole Soffkee[?] Spoon" stamped: on sides of handle: "[lion][anchor]G STERLING" and "GREENLEAF & CROSBY CO."

ClassificationsSILVER