posted 09-22-2000 11:18 AM            

In addition, there was flatware (there is a reason I posted this in a silver forum; I thought some people may be interested in the history behind the characters). The most common Brownie flatware is silverplated and it usually shows about three different Brownies on the handle in different poses. However, certain sterling manufacturers including Gorham and Frank Whiting made spoons (I haven't seen any other forms yet) with enameled Brownies. The spoon is in fact quite small, at only 3", even smaller than the typical demitasse spoon, so I'm not sure if this is some sort of child-size spoon. Does anybody know exactly how many different Brownie spoons Gorham made?

Paul

posted 04-23-2009 10:59 AM            

What a great display an early Brownie book and spoon would make too.

I'll have to see about finding both. The spoons for me and the books for my five year old grandson who loves video games and at the same time cannot stop reading. He'll still be reading at 10:30 at night if his parents do not take the book from him, and he reads anything that crosses his path. The Brownie books would be perfect for him.

posted 04-23-2009 05:58 PM            

Have always wanted a Brownie souvenir spoon for my collection and recently acquired a small 3-3/4" Gorham demitasse featuring the Dude (J. Chappie Goodforme) - have not been able to find any information concerning the design, but feel safe in dating it to the 1890s, a Brownie collector tells me that it was also produced with the Policeman and Chinaman. I've seen several other Brownie spoons, including a number of rather lightweight pieces with twist stems, both enameled and plain, marked only "STERLING". There were two patented designs, one from 1893 for the Columbian Exposition featuring Brownies ("grotesque Lilliputian human figures") on a Ferris Wheel, designed by Ulysses Racine and assigned to Watson, Newell; the other, from 1894, which I've always called the Pile-O-Brownies, was designed by Henry J. Robinson and assigned to Rieman & Dawson, both of Washington, D.C. Rainwater notes that this spoon was manufactured by Gorham exclusive to Wm. Kendrick's Sons in Louisville, but an 1894 ad shows a slightly simpler design (but still matching the patent description), and have seen both of the variations.

As Paul mentioned, there were many silverplate versions, many of these also seem to have been unmarked, suspect that they were often used as premiums. Have also seen several other silverplate pieces, charms, cups, napkin rings (both figural and stamped), etc. Cox was very clever in licensing and marketing his characters, but there was huge production of items of varying quality that were not designed or approved by him, not to mention the use in ads and packaging.

bascall - have a small print of the Brownies at a Maypole, intending to use it in a small shadowbox with the spoon (great minds).

~Cheryl

posted 04-23-2009 06:44 PM            

I have had several of the twisted-handle, Brownie-finial spoons you mention. Very lightweight and poor quality, and the Brownies seemed pretty clumsily rendered. One I had was even silverplate--as far as spoons go, that must have been the cheapest of the cheap.

Will try to post photographs of some of the silver Brownie items I've had in the past later tonight, if I can find the disc with the photos.