Souvenir Spoon

1964

Sterling silver

Overall: 7/8 x 4 in. (2.2 x 10.2 cm)

Gift of Roy Eddey

2008.36.6

Located at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens (site of the 1939 exhibition), New York's 1964 World's Fair was the largest of the city's three international exhibitions and attracted over fifty-one million visitors. The fair was organized by a team headed by former city planner Robert Moses and was beset by controversies that culminated in a boycott by the Bureau of International Expositions. Although tensions with the BIE resulted in diminished international participation, the fair showcased American industry and influence through the theme, "Peace Through Understanding," which was embodied by the twelve-story steel Unisphere globe. The Vatican Pavilion, depicted on this spoon, was also one of the exhibition's most popular.

DescriptionSouvenir spoon-end decorated with representation of the Pieta, and "VATICAN PAVILION" along stem; engraved with scene of the Vatican Pavilion and " 1964 1965 / NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR" along bowl.

MarkingsHallmark along reverse: "TH. MARTHINSEN STERLING/NORWAY".

ClassificationsSOUVENIRS