Spoon

Object Name:

Spoon

Object ID:

2025.031.12

Creator:

Durgin, William B. Company -- Silversmith

Place of Origin:

Concord, NH

Date:

circa 1890

Description:

Spoon. Sterling silver souvenir spoon, William B. Durgin, Concord, New Hampshire, c. 1890.
The spoon has a relief design on the handle of a witch in pointed hat, dress, and holding a broom, pointing toward raised lettering "SALEM" along with three pins. Bowl of spoon is pointed for use with grapefruit. Back of handle has floral border with engraved "Dorothy". Back of spoon neck is stamped with the cursive capital D hallmark of the William B. Durgin Company of Concord, NH, as well as "STERLING," "PAT. APD. FOR" and "D. LOW" for the Salem, MA, jeweler Daniel Low. He applied for a trademark with the U.S. Patent Office for the design of the witch on October 3, 1890, having been using it since July 1, 1890. The office granted Low a trademark on January 13, 1891, dating this spoon to 1890.

Material:

Silver

Dimensions:

W-1.063 L-5.75 D-0.75 inches

Provenance:

This design was one of the first silver souvenir spoons in the United States when Low introduced it in the summer of 1890; its popularity helped to start a craze in collecting souvenir spoons in the United States that lasted into the 1910s.

Credit Line:

Richard F. Upton New Hampshire Silver Collection, Gift of William W. Upton

People:

Durgin, William B. (1833-1905)

Subjects:

Silversmiths, Silver services, Silverware industry, Witch