Souvenir spoon: NIagara

c. 1897

Maker

William B. Durgin Company (c. 1880-1905)
W. H. Glenny Sons & Co., Buffalo retailer (1870-1898)

Measurements

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

Materials

Silver with a gold-washed bowl

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.1224

Inscription

“NIAGARA” in raised letters runs down the face of the handle.  “STERLING” and the Durgin Co. touchmark are stamped into the back of the handle where it joins the bowl.  “W.H.GLENNYSONS&CO.” in an arc is stamped on the outside bottom of the bowl near the handle.  “M.C.W. / Aug 97” is engraved into the back of the bowl. 

Provenance

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

Comments

The spoon has a freeform-edged handle containing an image of Niagara Falls, showing it passing over large boulders in the foreground with the second area of falls in the distance. The back side of the handle has generic scrolls and foliate motifs along the edges. 

The underside of the bowl bears the initials of Mary Corbit Warner and the date August 1897.

W. H. Glenny Sons & Co. was a large retailer of glass, ceramics, and other fine household merchandise in Buffalo.