Table spoon (one of a set of three)

c. 1845

Maker

Henry J. Pepper (1789-1853)

Measurements

9-1/2 in x 1-7/8 in x 1 in

Materials

Silver

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of Mrs. D. Meredith Reese

Accession Number

1978.46

Inscription

"MCW / 1847 / MCC / 1876" is engraved on the front of the handle; “H. J. PEPPER” in relief within a rectangle is stamped into the back of the shaft.

Provenance

The set of table spoons descended from Mrs. Daniel (Mary Corbit Wilson) Corbit to her daughter, Mrs. Edward Tatnall (Mary Cowgill Corbit) Warner.  Having no surviving children, Mary Warner likely gave the spoons to Ann Louise Corbit, the donor, who was her niece.

Comments

The tablespoons have pointed oval bowls and fiddleback handles that curve gently downward.  The engraved initials and dates on the handles represent three engraving campaigns.  The earliest engraving was "MCW" for Mary Corbit Wilson.  She married Daniel Corbit in 1847, at which time her initials changed--indicating that the spoons were made before 1847.  Mary Cowgill Corbit, Mary Wilson Corbit's daughter, was married to Edward Tatnall Warner in 1876.  She must have added her maiden initials to the spoons before that date.  Afterwards, she added wedding dates.

Spoons bearing accession numbers 1978.49 and 1978.50 have the same provenance and the same engraving, except the dates are above rather than below the appropriate initials.  Despite the visual similarities, the 1978.49 tea spoons have maker's marks of J. F. Robinson.  Tea spoons 1978.50 are unmarked.