Souvenir spoon : Old Man of the Mountain
Greenfield, Massachusetts
1892-1900
Maker
A.F. Towle and Son (1882-1902)
Measurements
5-3/4 in x 1-1/4 in x 3/4 in
Materials
Silver
Credit Line
Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.
Accession Number
1971.1086
Inscription
“OLD / MAN / OF / THE MOUNTAIN” is in the bowl; “LANCASTER / N.H.” is on the handle.
The Towle touchmark is on the underside of the handle at the bowl. “STERLING” and “J. M. KIMBALL” are on the handle near the touchmark.
Provenance
Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner
Comments
The spoon has a classic image of the Old Man of the Mountain, a rock formation in Lancaster, New Hampshire, that collapsed in 2003. It had been a symbol of the state for generations.
The maker’s mark is the same as one on a souvenir spoon with imagery for Gloucester, Massachusetts, and dated 1892. It is accession no. 1971.1087. Both spoons are of conventional design. The handle tip of this one turns upward, whereas the Gloucester spoon turns down.
J.M. Kimball, whose name appears on the underside of the handle, is unidentified. He is likely a retailer.
