Souvenir spoon: St. George slaying the dragon
Hungary
1860-1900
Measurements
3 in x 3/4 in (dia) x 1/4 in
Materials
Silver
Credit Line
Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.
Accession Number
1971.1137
Inscription
"S GEORGIV[i.e., U]S EQVITVM PATRONVS" is across the top of the image. “IN TEMPESTATE SECVRITAS” (“safety in the storm”) is across the image on the reverse.
Condition Notes
The handle is bent.
Provenance
Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner
Comments
This spoon is made from a good luck medal or token that has been shaped into a shallow bowl and attached to a twisted handle. A mask of an unidentified individual is at the tip of the handle.
The spoon bowl shows St. George slaying the dragon on the front. St. George is mounted on a horse and holds a spear that has pierced a dragon at the horse's feet. The opposite side features a boat in a turbulent sea. The sail held by the single mast strains in the wind. An individual, possibly a Christ-like figure, stands at the stern with arms raised, perhaps to calm the waters.
The medal derives from 17th century examples. It is one of several variations made in different metals.
