Table spoons (set of five)

1840-1875

Maker

H. & W. (unidentified)

Measurements

8-1/4 in x 1-5/8 in x 7/8 in

Materials

Pewter

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.947

Inscription

A maker’s mark stamped into the underside of the shaft near the handle appears to read “H & W”.  (Spoon 1971.947.1 was photographed.)

Condition Notes

Spoon 1971.947.5 is a fragment only, being a 2-inch-long end of the handle.  All of the spoons exhibit wear from use.

Provenance

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

Comments

The cast pewter tablespoons have long and deep oval bowls.  The handles are narrow and are slightly deeper than their width near the bowl.  Both the bowl and handle shapes are not typical of pewter spoons made in the early 19th century or before.  Each spoon bears a rectangular maker’s mark on the underside of the shaft near the handle that has lettering spread horizontally to a greater extent than typical early 19th century marks.  The marks are too worn to read with any certainty.

The four spoons and one fragment catalogued as a set are identical to a sixth spoon, accession no. 1971.1430, which likely completed an original set of six spoons.