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Discover Mid-America - June 2006
Unique spoons stir up collectors
Spoon collecting has been a popular collectible since it became a hobby for hundreds of people in 1891. While it reached its peak from 1896 to 1920, there are still avid collectors {spooners}in America and around the world. Probably the ultimate collector was the late Bertha Schaefer Koempel (1882-1966) with her collection of over 5,400 spoons.
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| Apostle Spoon. Victorian. Birmingham hallmark (photo by private collector) |
Credit Daniel Low, a Salem, MA jeweler with creating the first souvenir spoon, the famous witch spoon. Thousands were made and sold. Probably the next popular subjects were made for the 1893 Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. Over 300 varieties were made featuring Exposition buildings and exhibits.
Historically spoons were given to commemorate special events, such as births and weddings, as early as 1500, in Germany and Holland. Best known are the Apostle spoons. Each had the figure of a different Apostle on the finial {handle}. In late 19th century America, they were considered the ultimate high school graduation and birthday gift.
Designs for spoons became elaborately engraved and were patented to prevent copies. There were soon spoon designs for every occasion and historical event. With advent of movies early movie star spoons featured the likeness of such film favorites as Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. By the ‘30s and ‘40s, Disney figures were popular souvenir spoon subjects. Elvis became a souvenir spoon by the 1960s.
CLUES
Spoon collectors can usually date their spoons by the patent number. Souvenir spoons were cast, embossed, engraved or etched to commemorate a specific person, place, object or event. Most old souvenir spoons were of sterling. Late 19th century spoons were also silver plate. A few were copper. Many of the most popular examples have been reproduced. The Apostle spoons are still being made.
There are many different types, some with mechanical parts, such as the windmill. Another is known as the skyline spoon. It has a handle cut around in the shape of a panoramic scene. Souvenir spoons with the state or city symbol or map were almost a standard gift from travelers to the folks back home. There was also the Chicago onion spoon, derived from the Indian name of wild onion; the elk tooth from Cheyenne, WY or the nutmeg from the nutmeg state of Connecticut.
Old advertisements show that souvenir spoons were eagerly anticipated by collectors. Offered for around fifteen cents and a coupon, State Seal spoons were issued weekly. Other State spoons were tied in with advertising campaigns. One tea company offered them for a dime along with a purchase of the product.
Sport spoons are among the most eye-catching. Some were shaped like baseball bats, others, for racing fanciers, featured handles with a horse’s head and bowls shaped like jockey caps.
To join other spooners, contact The American Spoon Collectors {ASC). The group can put you in touch with collectors in your state and offers a monthly newsletter. Check theirs and other websites. Contact Robert M. Wilhelm, Spooners Forum American Spoon Collectors. P.O. Box 243, Rhinecliff, NY 12574, or email, campania@hvc.IT.com.
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