Spoon

Object Name:

Spoon

Object ID:

1979.055.24

Creator:

US Sterling Co.

Date:

circa 1896

Description:

Caviar Spoon. Made by the U. S. Sterling Company; c. 1896. Silver-plated handle attached to scallop shell bowl. Handle is fully decorated with embossed image of a mermaid, holding up a shell (at the handle end); mermaid appears to have two tails, intertwined (toward bowl end). Reverse of handle also embossed, with cattails and other water grasses. Three prongs, alternating, wrap around flat edge of scallop shell, held on with one rivet. Shell has painted decoration on inner surface, flowers and leaves, in green, pink, purple, and yellow. Maker's mark on reverse, in box with rounded ends: "U.S.STERLING CO.A.1".

Material:

Metal
Silver
Skeletal
Shell

Dimensions:

W-1.7 L-4.75 inches

Provenance:

This spoon is part of a collection of Kent and Thomas family objects, bequeathed by Louise Thomas Blanding (1891-1981) of West Barrington, RI. The donor was the grand- daughter of Mary Jane Kent (1806-1897) and Rev. Moses George Thomas (1805-1880) of Concord, NH. These spoons probably belonged to the donor's parents, Nellie F. Goodwin (1855-1902) and William Channing Thomas (1843-1914).

Credit Line:

Bequest of Louise Thomas Blanding

People:

Thomas, William C. (1843-1914), Thomas, Nellie F. (1855-1902), Blanding, Louise T. (1891-1981)