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Recently identified this as a A.F. Towel & Son ball and twist pattern souvenir spoon introduced in 1892. Only marked as STERLING. Bright cut design and calligraphy of Chicago. Possibly produced for the 1893 Columbian Exposition In Chicago?




Opinions?
Warren

I have handled quite a few of these over the years, in 3-4 patterns by different makers. The spoons (teaspoons and demi-tasse) were bought and engraved afterward. I have seen both dated and non-dated versions and a variety of engraved designs. It appears there were several sellers at the fair and they offered similar but different varieties. As I have seen a like variety of spoons for the NY Worlds Fair they seem to be a popular souvenir.

That's fascinating Doggett, have read that in various places so it is true. So there is really no way to trace this pattern back to A.F. Towel specifically. Do love the solid feel of this spoon and the particular shape of the bowl. Does the bowl design have a name?

W

Unless it's a small demitasse size, it would be an orange/citrus spoon, the design in the bowl appears to acid-etched with engraved accents (and the correct spelling would be 'Towle').

~Cheryl

Yes Cheryl it is larger, would never have considered it a grapefruit spoon. Thanks for the correction, was at least able to correct the subject line.

Your servant
W

There was a wide variety of bowl shapes, they were usually called orange spoons in the 1890s, grapefruit, citrus and melon designations seemed to show up in catalogs, ads, etc. ads a bit later (grapefruit spoons had wider bowls than the orange in patterns that offered both).

~Cheryl

1892:


1903-09:


1907-13:

Actually Cheryl these were made as souvenir spoon blanks, I know Towle and sons, Towle Mfg, Meridiam, and at least one other (possibly Whiting, but my memory just failed me) made similar types as blank spoons for bulk purchase by novelty spoon companies onto which they could apply etched or engraved designs. They have very little serviceability as anything other than stirring as the twisted stems were rather flimsy. Usually they were made in a 5-1/2" - 6" version and a 4" version, with finials or a small cartouche on the ends (usually where the year would be engraved). I have not see many with the wide flange around the bowl as seen here.

As you can see this one is made with a 3 piece construction, bowl, stem and finial. The ones from Towle Mfg were one stamped piece and typically had a small shield shaped end with minor flourishes along the edge. When I worked there they still made them to order and had a odd machine for turning the stems. The stamped piece was inserted after it had been finished with the bowl and shied held by fitted clamps, the bowl end was was fixed and the shield end was in a movable clamp with a crank. the crank was turned the correct number of times and the stem was completed. Death threats (in very colourful language) were made by the guy doing the twisting as talking to him might make him miss his count and spoil a spoon...

Enjoyed your great explanation of the construction, how interesting that they were still available when you were with Towle! Whiting did make a ball & twist, as did Dominick & Haff, know I've seen other makers beside those you mention, but they're just not coming to mind at the moment.

Have a weakness for twist-stems, and some I've had were quite sturdy, while others were very flimsy; and have seen pointed bowls on twist-stem coffee/demitasse size souvenir spoons, with little doubt that they were just decorative, like the heart-shaped bowls, but believe that a good number of the larger ones were marketed as orange spoons, though their practicality might be questionable.

The page below, from an 1896 retailer's catalog, shows a "Heavy" twist-stem orange spoon at bottom left - I have the same spoon (marked only 'Sterling') in the smaller size with a regular oval bowl, and it's pretty substantial despite its delicate appearance.

~Cheryl