Souvenir spoon: Utica, New York

c. 1892

Maker

George W. Shiebler & Co (1876-1910)

Measurements

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

Materials

Silver

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.1114

Inscription

“Utica / N.Y.” is on the handle tip.  “STERLING” and “PAT. 88.” are on the back, along with the “S” with wings touchmark for the maker.

Provenance

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

Comments

The bowl shows an image of the Masonic Home building in Utica.  It was dedicated in 1892 and received its first residents in 1893.  Some other souvenir spoons show the same building with the legend, “Masonic Home Utica, N.Y.”  The building was razed in 1965.

The handle is rendered in an asymmetrical rococo-revival style.  On the back, it has “PAT. 88.”, an obvious reference to a patent, but the “88” is a mystery.