Souvenir spoon: Devil’s Lake
Providence, Rhode Island
1888-1911
probably 1911
Maker
Gorham Manufacturing Co. (1831-1986)
Measurements
5-1/8 in x 1 in x 3/4 in
Materials
Silver with a gold-washed bowl
Credit Line
Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.
Accession Number
1971.1122
Inscription
"DEVIL'S LAKE" is in the bowl. “COPYRIGHTED 88” is on the underside of the bowl above Gorham touchmarks with “STERLING” closest to the handle.
Provenance
Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner
Comments
The spoon celebrates Devil's Lake in Wisconsin. The lake name is in the bowl. The handle design, which shows a young maiden on the face and is ornately rendered on the back, seems to bear no relationship to Devil's Lake. The 1888 patent date recorded on the back of the bowl is likely for the handle design. Devil's Lake State Park was established in 1911, which seems to be an appropriate time to issue a celebratory spoon as a souvenir.
