Souvenir Spoons
04.14.06 By Lorraine Newberry
The word “souvenir” is French for “remember.” Travelers love to bring home a little something from the places they’ve visited, something to help them remember days spent vacationing far from everyday headaches and worries. In the late 1800s someone came up with the idea of creating souvenir spoons and a collecting craze was born.
The first souvenir spoons in the U.S. were produced in the 1890s and remained popular for 30 years. Before long tourist towns were jumping on the bandwagon and having commemorative spoons created. Most spoons were fashioned from sterling silver, though silverplate spoons were also made. Some featured enamel while others had a gold wash in the bowl. Some souvenir spoons bore simple designs with the name of the state engraved on the handle, while others carried elaborate depictions of Native Americans in headdresses or state birds and flowers.
The popularity of sterling silver souvenir spoons means that there are many antique spoons available on the market for reasonable prices. Most spoons fetch $5 to $40, but a rare spoon will cost more. While they can be found in antique shops and malls, for sheer volume of choice the internet is your best bet. As always, when purchasing online make sure to ask a lot of questions, especially about the condition of the spoon. Dings and scratches don’t necessarily show up in photos. Also, souvenir buyers frequently had their` names engraved onto the spoons which can bring down the resale value, so make sure to ask about any inscriptions.
Another area of spoon collecting is more modern mini souvenir spoons. These spoons are usually stainless steel or silver plated with an enameled design at the top. These spoons are inexpensive and colorful. They often bear the name of a state, but also can be found for amusement parks, state parks and other tourist attractions. Some like to collect one from every state they’ve visited and display them on the wall, while others aim for a full set of 50 states.
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Article Tags: remember, silverplate, souvenir, spoons, sterling silver================
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