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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Sterling Silver
 Gorham Spooner?
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| Author | Topic: Gorham Spooner? |
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nautilusjv Posts: 253 |
posted 10-15-2009 08:09 PM
  
[26-1913] I recently acquired what I believe is a spooner suggested by the design and shape. It is by Gorham with a date mark for 1915. I was wondering if indeed it is a spooner and if anyone knew how this table implement was used, for what meal etc. Also, how would one classify its style: academic, faint rococo revival? Thanks. IP: Logged |
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doc Posts: 728 |
posted 10-16-2009 01:35 PM
I believe this is more likely a cruet set holder; it would have held glass bottles for vinegar and oil. I don't really have a good description for the style. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 10-16-2009 02:45 PM
The style is a rather flexible one. It can accomodate a large range of candidates. And can be applied to glass or stand alone items like this one. I don't think that production of this type ever covered a full line. I agree that this most likely held glass bottles. Maybe a dresser item for cologne as well as a cruet holder. IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 10-16-2009 03:26 PM
Looks like a pretty pierced-design spoon-holder to me, though the form is much more common in china. Have always assumed that spooners were used with tea and coffee sets at breakfast or tea tables, or at casual table settings, but not really sure why I made that assumption (so many tiny bits of miscellany floating around in my head).  ~Cheryl From a 1922 Ryrie Bros. catalogue: IP: Logged |
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nautilusjv Posts: 253 |
posted 10-16-2009 05:51 PM
Thanks Dale, Doc and Cheryl for your thoughts about the Gorham piece. I think I am tending to agree with Cheryl. If you look at the footprint of the piece with it's oval shape, it doesn't seem that it would be compatible with a glass cruet bottle, but perhaps a perfume bottle. Also, I easily put 10 teaspoons into the piece. They stack nicely and the pinched low contour of the middle of the piece makes it very easy to remove them. It does also make sense that it would be used on a breakfast or tea table. I would use it for tea or a dessert table or a small buffet perhaps. Thanks again, Kelly. IP: Logged |
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asheland Posts: 935 |
posted 10-17-2009 04:37 AM
Can you post a picture of it with the spoons inside? It looks very interesting! IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 10-17-2009 12:29 PM
It looks like a spoon holder to me, but obviously it's yours to use as you wish. Nice item. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 10-18-2009 01:39 AM
The only spoon holder I have ever seen in use was my grandmother's. It was glass and a pedestaled glass deep bowl. In it was a collection of silverplated state spoons bought from the newspaper. When she wanted company, grandma would hang a bright colored apron on the back porch. Other housewives would come over. They were known as 'the girls'. Each would take a spoon, stir cream into coffee, and then wipe the spoon clean on their apron and then put the spoon back into the spooner. Beyond this, I don't quite fathom the use of a spooner for more formal ocassions. IP: Logged |
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Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 10-18-2009 12:40 PM
This reminds us all how important it is to show muliple views of a puzzling object, and to give dimensions if relevant. I instantly thought cruet stand, but now am convinced that it is indeed a spoon caddy--one of those marvelous task-specific objects created in that silver-rich and control-freaky world of the golden past. It is such a perfect example of an answer to the question: How can we sell more silver things to more people? IP: Logged |
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nautilusjv Posts: 253 |
posted 10-19-2009 06:26 PM
The spooner is indeed testament to an ever expanding consumer capitalism. Kelly IP: Logged |
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nautilusjv Posts: 253 |
posted 02-05-2010 06:12 PM
Ashland asked for a picture with the spooner filled with spoons. Sorry it has taken so long, but here it is. The spooner is filled with 4 Whiting King Edward teaspoons and 4 Imperial Queen teaspoons. I think another 4 spoons would fit comfortably. These pics were taken with a new digital camera. If anyone has some suggestions to improve my photographing of silver, I would be grateful. Thanks, Kelly IP: Logged |
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taloncrest Posts: 169 |
posted 02-05-2010 07:31 PM
I collect old Noritake china in addition to silver, and in Noritake these are not uncommon. I have one of them, but it will not hold modern six inch teaspoons. Five-o-clock spoons fit well. Nautilus, how long are the spoons you are using? [This message has been edited by taloncrest (edited 02-05-2010).] IP: Logged |
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nautilusjv Posts: 253 |
posted 02-05-2010 07:47 PM
The teaspoons are 6" in length. I have seen some china spooners before but never noticed the size. Kelly IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 02-06-2010 10:16 AM
Hi Kelly. I think your photos are fine, but if you want to go for the professional look you should condisider either making or buying a photo stage. Essentially these are just small white boxes, typically made of white fabric stretched over a frame and with a large hole in one side. You place the object you want to photograph inside the box, typically on a piece of dark colored cloth and then place two lights on the outside to shine on the outside of the box. The fabric difuses the light and you get a nice even light without very much of the reflection so you can see the details in the silver. Another good thing to use is a small tripod or a stack of books or whatever to steady the camera. Finally, for photographing the markings, be sure your camera is set on the 'macro' setting which allows the lens to focus when the camera is held very close to the object. You can either make your own light stage (even by simply using a white plastic box or draping a white sheet over a framework of some kind, or you can buy professionally made ones at camera stores or the big internet auction site (many people sell them there). IP: Logged |
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nautilusjv Posts: 253 |
posted 02-06-2010 10:59 AM
Thank you Kimo for your photo advice. The photo box idea sounds great. I will definitely get one. I did figure out the macro setting thing and that makes such a difference. I must say I also like seeing the silver in situ so to speak. I would love to see how more people set their table and use their collection or how they display their collection. Here is a pic of my dining table set for a simple dessert. You can see the Gorham spooner in the foreground, a Martin Hall plate coffeepot, pastry/pie plate forks in Rogers & Hamilton's Raphael pattern, a Rogers Bros. plate pie server in the Lorne pattern, a later Gorham Strasbourg creamer and sugar, a Whiting King Edward sugar shell and Royal Doulton Countess plates from 1908 with green medallions and swags. Thanks again, Kelly IP: Logged |
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