Souvenir spoon: US Capitol

Patented in 1890

Maker

Moore and Leding

Measurements

4 in x 7/8 in x 1/2 in

Materials

Silver

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.1178

Inscription

“M.C.W. / 1892” is engraved on the back of the handle tip.  "STERLING” and “PAT.NOV.18.90" are stamped into the back of the handle.

Provenance

Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner

Comments

The spoon handle is a representation of the Washington Monument, completed in 1884.  It is shown wrapped with a laurel vine that ends along the adjacent border of the bowl.  The Capitol building is shown inside the bowl.  The spoon design is unusual in that it places the bowl at the top rather than the bottom or to one side. 

The spoon is reproduced in Anton Hardt, Souvenir Spoons of the 90’s:  As Pictured and Described in “The Jewelers’ Circular” & The James Catalogue in 1891 (New York:  the author, 1962), pp. 79-80.  The text noted that this spoon is “one of the best selling spoons produced.  It is made in tea, orange an coffee sizes, and is oxidized or bright, gilt or fancy gilt.”

The initials MCW engraved on the back of the bowl are those of Mary Corbit Warner.