Tea spoon

1825-1846

Maker

Robert and William Wilson (in partnership 1825-1846)

Measurements

6-1/4 in x 1-1/4 in x 1/2 in

Materials

Silver

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation

Accession Number

1986.9

Inscription

"T J[?] R" is engraved into the face of the handle.  "R & W . WILSON" in relief in a rectangle is stamped into the underside of the handle.

Condition Notes

The engraving on the face of the handle is worn.  The bowl has a few dents in the bottom.

Provenance

The teaspoon was part of a large body of objects acquired by Winterthur in trade with Sara Corbit Reese Pryor (1932-2019), who was a direct descendant of William Corbit.  Some of the objects traded were owned by him or his children; others seem to have come from collateral descendants.  This tea spoon appears to be among the latter.  The individual(s) for whom the initials were engraved has not been identified.

Comments

The teaspoon has a pointed oval bowl and fiddleback handle that curves gently downward.  The "T J[?] R" initials engraved into the handle have not been identified.

Silversmiths Robert Wilson (c. 1796-1846) and William Wilson (c. 1800-1859) were sons of silversmith Robert Wilson (1766-1824).  The family left Scotland in about 1803 for New York City and eventually settled in Philadelphia in 1812.  Wilson Sr. likely trained his sons in the silversmithing trade.