SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
American Silver before sterling Forum

A GLOSSARY of MILLED BANDS
Past American Coin Silver Forum topics/threads worth a look
WEV's American Silversmith's Family Tree Project Smith's Index

How to Post Photos REGISTER (click here)

customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  American Silver before sterling
tline3open  Memorial spoon?

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Memorial spoon?
Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 11-08-2004 02:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
First of all, greetings from a raw newbie and thanks in advance for your patience.

I recently bought a spoon at a flea market, with initials and dates engraved on the back: "LBP 1846-1899." The spoon itself is coin silver with what I think is called a tipped fiddle handle (told you I'm a total newbie!) and is stamped N. Harding in an incuse (am I getting these words right?). There's no "& Co."

Here's my question: What's with the initials and dates--is this spoon commemorating the death of LBP, whoever he or she may be? And do the dates 1846 and 1899 have anything to do with the date when the spoon was manufactured? This thread: http://www.smpub.com/ubb/Forum19/HTML/000327.html leads me to think that the spoon was made by Newell Harding in Boston, but one of the posters suggests that after 1842 Harding (or his company) started adding "& Co." But 1842 is earlier than the earlier of the two dates engraved on the spoon.

If I haven't worn out your patience yet, here's another question. I also bought a coin silver spoon that's engraved "J.S.V.R. to H.L.H." Any idea why J.S.V.R. might have given H.L.H. a spoon? Was it common to give someone a spoon and engrave it like that? Were there common spoon-giving occasions?

And one final question: Can I use these spoons to stir my tea, or should I refrain?

Thanks so much! I'm finding these little bits of social history recorded on spoons incredibly intriguing.

IP: Logged

agleopar

Posts: 850
Registered: Jun 2004

iconnumber posted 11-09-2004 11:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for agleopar     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Polly, we all started out at some point and my only qualification is to your last question, as I am still a beginner on the rest.
Use it!
All silver, continental, coin, sterling, are meant for daily use... But with a proviso, that in asending order the above alloys of silver get softer. ie 800/1000, 900/1000, 925/1000, and that relative to other materials (like brass or steel) all silver alloys are subject to wear or denting.
This means for practical use do not use any polish except made for silver, do not wash in a dishwasher, avoid bumping on hard sufaces,like sinks, and lastly never use green scratch pads to clean with.
Gentle daily use will not harm a well made piece of silver, but if it is already delicate, worn, compromised by damage or valuable, then ocasional use at the most. Lastly coin spoons are quite durable, if in good shape, I have seen Georgian sterling Irish spoons with 1/4 of the bowl worn away (they never got new ones made) and coin from the same period has only a little wear.
Good luck and happy use.

IP: Logged

Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 11-09-2004 11:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks, Algeopar! You've given me courage--as I type this, I'm using my LBP spoon to eat my yogurt. (Wish I knew who he/she was & whether he/she liked yogurt...)

IP: Logged

adelapt

Posts: 418
Registered: May 2003

iconnumber posted 11-09-2004 01:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for adelapt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Another reply to part of your query Polly.
Silver spoons are a traditional christening present, and have been (in Britain at least) for centuries. People still give them (as I do). Some like to have engraved on the gift a commemorative inscription, but spoons being small, initials tend to predominate. Maybe your yoghurt spoon shows the initials of a long gone fond grandparent/aunt/uncle, along with those of the child.

IP: Logged

Polly

Posts: 1970
Registered: Nov 2004

iconnumber posted 11-09-2004 02:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Polly     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That makes sense--I've given babies silver spoons myself. Why was I thinking it had to be an adult? I guess it was the size of the spoon, the same as a modern teaspoon.

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices