Souvenir spoon: Fort Sumter, South Carolina

1890-1895

Maker

James Allan & Co (c. 1884-1960)

Measurements

5-1/2 x 1-1/4 x 3/4

Materials

Silver

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.1044

Inscription

“FORT SUMTER and “CHARLESTON” is in the bowl; “South Carolina” is in relief on the top of the handle.

“STERLING S” in relief and “JAMES ALLEN & CO. / OFFICIAL” is stamped into the underside of the handle.

Provenance

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

Comments

The cast spoon has a wavy handle richly decorated with imagery suggestive of South Caroline, including a palm tree, cotton balls, and a rice plant.  The bowl has an image of Fort Sumter.

The underside of the handle is stamped James Allen & Co., which seems to stand for James Allan & Co.  The misspelled name suggests that the spoon might have been made by another silver manufacturer for the Allan company.