The Golden Age of Souvenir Spoons

By: Judy Penz Sheluk

As seen in The Antique Shoppe Newspaper, February, 2005

 Beth Jacobson’s collection of antique souvenir spoons started in 1995, when she inherited a few sterling silver spoons from her grandmother. That her grandmother had been a collector made perfect sense - the “Golden Age” of souvenir spoons spanned from 1895 to 1925. To Jacobson, however, the spoons were kind of cheesy. She nailed a few to the wall of her cabin in Alaska, and threw the remainder in a drawer.

 A few years later, Jacobson became interested in Alaskan memorabilia, and while on the hunt for unique items, came across a small demitasse spoon by Mayer. “The spoon had a large gold nugget on the handle, and a Husky dog engraved in the shovel-shaped bowl, along with the word M.U.S.H.,” said Jacobson. “I couldn’t resist it, and once home, pulled out the spoons my grandmother had left me. Suddenly I realized, these were more than just spoons, they were a historical legacy.”

 Jacobson is now the owner/operator of Spoontown, an internet-based store specializing in antique souvenir spoons. She recommends that novice collectors concentrate on three C's: condition, crispness and cohesion. “Whenever possible, avoid spoons with dents or dings, or missing enamel,” said Jacobson. “Detail should be sharp, crisp, and clear, and not worn down, softened or rubbed out. When buying on the internet, view pictures carefully and ask questions. A reputable dealer will not only be knowledgeable, they will be more than willing to share that knowledge.”

 “Cohesion also adds value and appeal to a collection, and by zeroing in on an area of interest, you will avoid the novice mistake of buying every spoon you see. My personal collection amounts to several hundred, but most focus on Alaska, Yukon and mining spoons, although I also have a few unusual spoons from the state of Washington.”

 The earliest ‘collectible’ spoons can be dated back to the 1500s, although examples are extremely rare and of considerable value. A complete set of 13 Apostle spoons includes the image of Christ and the Twelve Apostles on the finial. In fact, the phrase “born with a silver spoon” is derived from the tradition of wealthy grandparents purchasing one Apostle spoon for their grandchild’s Christening present. Several companies have since made sets of Apostle spoons, including the Franklin Mint in the 1970s.

 The American launch of the souvenir spoon is credited to Daniel Low, a jeweler and silversmith from Salem, Massachusetts. While on vacation in Germany, Low had noticed a number of unique and unusual souvenir spoons for sale. Upon his return home, Low made a Salem Witch spoon, which used the figure of a witch on the handle as an ornament and trademark. The first issue was made in 1891, and sold well locally and by mail order throughout the country. A second issue was released shortly thereafter; in 1979, these spoons sold for less than $100 - examples today are priced at $185 and up.

 Another favorite among collectors are World’s Fair souvenir spoons. Among the most desirable are the spoons issued for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago by Tiffany & Co.  Several other companies also produced souvenir spoons for the expo; many were produced in large numbers and are of lesser value.

 Today, collectors look for examples of early souvenir spoons by a number of American silversmiths, including Gorham, Mayer, Watson and Paye & Baker. “Many of these were hand-engraved by immigrant craftsman from Europe,” said Jacobson. “The modern day, mass-produced souvenir spoons of today do not begin to match the intricacy of the spoons from the Golden Age.”